Race to prepare Benidorm avenues for cycling tour

BENIDORM – FOR the first time Spain’s Vuelta Ciclista’ cycling tournament in August is due to start from Benidorm. However, it now seems that the town is not actually ready to host the event, which ranks only second to the Tour de France in importance.

Benidorm has turned to the Generalitat Valenciana, the regional government, and Alicante Provincial Government to help them fund the necessary improvements to bring the town’s streets up to the required standard for an international cycling tournament.

 

The exact route that the race will follow within the town has yet to be confirmed. However, there is general consensus within the Ayuntamiento that works must be carried out to bring Benidorm up to the standard of other host towns before the starting gun fires on August 20.

The deputy mayor of Benidorm, José Bañuelos, last week raised the issue formally with Gema Amor, the director general of the Tourist Board of the Costa Blanca, and who is in charge of mediating with both higher government bodies.

One area ring-marked for upgrading is along the Spanish Armada Avenue.

These works are in any event included within the proposed construction of the Paseo de Poniente as the responsibility of the Valencia Government, but in addition the town council has asked that the Avenidas Europa and Mediterraneo are also improved, including their pedestrian areas.

It is virtually certain that these three roads will be used in the race.

Given the nearness of the event, the scale of the works required, and the fact that discussions concerning the funding of the same have only just begun, it is clear that much must be done over the coming months, and that Benidorm might be the subject of much disruptive road works if the council’s objectives are to be fulfilled.

By Paul Deed

Picture Credit: Phranet



Author badge placeholder
Written by

Euro Weekly News Media

Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews

Comments