The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya is not one of the biggest stage races in the UCI ProTour calendar but it is one of the oldest after first being held in 1911. The week-long race has started in as far-off places as Andorra, Majorca, France and even Italy but is of course focused on the roads of the Catalan region of north-eastern Spain. Stages usually visit the coastal holiday resorts, the foothills of the Pyrenees to the north and of course the regional capital Barcelona. In 2006 David Canada gave the Saunier Duval team a big win in Spain as he beat Colombia’s Santiago Botero and Frenchman Christophe Moreau (Ag2r) by two and eight seconds after some close racing. Thanks to the UCI PoTour the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya now has a high quality field with Fabian Cancellara (CSC) winning the opening stage, Thor Hushovd taking stage three and Italy’s Daniele Bennati winning the final stage. The race is held at the same time as the Giro d’Italia but is in a vital slot in the UCI ProTour calendar. The weather is usually good and the hilly stages always produce some great racing. The Spanish riders are always determined to do well on home roads. In a moment of globalization the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya reminds everyone of the importance of cycling’s roots and traditions while also inspiring the highest possible quality of racing.