European cycling season kicks off in Spain

The European road cycling season gets underway this Saturday in Valencia, Spain. Riders will kick off the year with the 40th edition of the Classica Comunitat Valenciana, won last year by Belgian Arnaud De Lie.

The race marks the start of another busy cycling season. During the first month, most of the European races take place in the south of the continent, where temperatures are more comfortable. The first race on Belgian soil is Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on 24 February.

The UCI season - the highest level of competition - has already begun with the Tour Down Under in Australia, a week-long race that ends on Sunday. Next month, riders will travel to the United Arab Emirates for the UAE Tour before heading to Europe at the end of February. The UCI season officially ends in October with the Tour of Guangxi in China.

^{The Tour of Valencia cycling race in 2022. © BELGA PHOTO JUAN CARLOS CARDENAS}