Andorra, the cyclists' paradise that still didn't have its own race.

BarcelonaIt all started with Joaquín Purito Rodríguez. He was one of the first cyclists who understood, some 20 years ago, that spending long periods in Andorra might be a good idea. And not just because of the tax benefits. "Here you leave home and immediately find a mountain pass. There are more than 20 well-marked and maintained ones. You train at altitude, it's ideal. People like Purito, Xavier Florencio, and Ángel Vicioso were the first professionals to form a core group in Andorra, at a time when people said the weather said the weather said the weather said training," says Carlos Verona (San Lorenzo del Escorial, 1992). The Madrid-born rider from the Lidl-Trek team has been in Andorra for 10 years now and has become the star of the inaugural Andorra MoraBanc Clásica, the first professional cycling race in the Principality.

This Sunday will see a race that the organizers have been working on for "three years," explains Verona, the recent winner of a stage of the Giro this year and a fan of the Catalan Pyrenees, which he has known well since deciding to come to Catalonia, first for love: he fell in love with Catalan cyclist Ester Fernández Casasola. Then he discovered Andorra and understood the country's potential to host its own race. "You have a lot of cyclists living and training there. As more and more people are arriving, training groups can be formed to improve their level. It's an ideal location, but it didn't have its own race," he says. The headliner for the first edition will be Mallorcan Enric Mas (Movistar), one of those who normally resides in Andorra. In fact, in 2019 he won the stage of the Vuelta a España that finished at the Coll de la Gallina in Andorra.

Also on the list of participants are British rider Tom Pidcock, winner of a stage in the Tour de France, and Esteban Chaves (EF Education-EasyPost). All of them live in Andorra. "It will be a tough one-day classic, with 4,000 meters of altitude over 140 kilometers. I think it's a great opportunity for Andorra, where many teams spend time at altitude. Many cyclists are excited about it, as they know the roads and live here. On my team, there are about ten cyclists living in Andorra," says Verona. Verona has worked with Gerard Riart, former president of the Andorran Cycling Federation, to organize a race that takes advantage of a date when the Tour of Occitanie is free.

From skiing to cycling

The race will start at 11:30 a.m. with 20 teams, four of which are World Tour teams: Arkéa B&B Hotels, EF Education-Easy Post, Lidl-Trek, and Movistar. There will also be ten Pro Team teams and the Andorran national team. As the Tour de France starts in less than two weeks, some riders haven't signed up for the race, which wouldn't have been possible without the support of Andorra la Vella, Massana, MoraBanc, and other sponsors. They are all committed to making Andorra a small country that is big in sports, such as cycling, where the annual Mountain Bike World Cup is already held..

"Cycling is already part of Andorra's sporting history. And it's not just about climbing mountain passes, but also about taking care of the hotel offering. It was only a matter of time before we could hold this race. The idea is to consolidate it on the calendar," Verona points out. In fact, the Andorran government created the campaign just a few years ago. Andorra, cycling territory Now, more than 120 professional cyclists reside in Andorra, partly because of the taxes, and partly because it's an ideal place to train. The changing climate is helping cyclists at a time when snow is losing ground.