100 years of Cycling Tour and Meteorological Services in Catalonia

And both will collaborate this year, as this has become a tradition

SMC, the meteorological service of Catalonia, will once again provide weather forecasts for Volta a Catalunya (the annual Cycling Tour competition of the region) in beneficial collaboration. The twist this year is that both of them turn 100. The two centenarians, however, are looking in bright shape as they are adapted to the 21st-century realities.

The Volta will take place between 22 and 28 March and its participants will rely on complete and detailed weather forecast information that will be supplied by the SMC. Technically speaking this will be its 100^th edition, although the first such race was actually held in 1911, thus making it over a hundred in years.

Volta a Catalunya is the fourth-oldest cycling race in the world

The Catalonian Cycling Tour, although not as widely known as the Tour de France, is a prestigious race among the athletes involved in this discipline. It is almost peers with the French competition, which started in 1903.

This year, presenting an anniversary edition, the organizers have prepared a varied tour consisting of seven stages that will include different topographical and climatic conditions for the contestants. The race will start in Calella, a time trial in Pla de l’Estany, two high finals in Vallter 2000 and Port Ainé, as well as stages which encourage sprint finals which are a crowd favourite.

The Volta has been partnering with SMC since 2018. This collaboration is essential as the latter has been offering more varied data as well in order to allow cyclists and organizers to make the best decisions for the course ahead.

Aside from air temperature, this also includes information, such as the state of the sky, visibility and the probability of precipitation in the exact localities traversed by the racecourse. The SMC logo will also be prominently featured at the final line of each stage, as well as on the Volta website and the route book of the race.