Girona will again be the scene of a stage of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya in 2016. In the 96th edition of the race, the city will host the start of the third stage which will take place on March 23.

The Municipal Pavello Fontajau Girona will be the starting point of the stage. 

Girona is one of the venues for the fifth year of the competition, one of the country's most important and a major stage race on the UCI World Tour calendar. In the 2015 edition, the city hosted the start and finish of the third stage which was won by Domenico Pozzovivo and played a key role in deciding the overall winner.

"We are very proud to host a stage of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya again, one of the biggest races on international cycling calendar that has long been consolidated on their way through the city and has become an attractive proposition for both Girona and for people who visit us. Girona is a city with a long cycling tradition and we want to further promote us through Destinació Tourist Esportiva," remarked the Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Education and Sports of the City Council of Girona Isabel Muradas. 

Last July Girona was certified Destinació Tourist Esportiva. Cycling is one of the sports included in this certification to the city as it is one of the disciplines that is practised most in the area. First of all Girona has been chosen by many professional riders and teams as a training ground in recent years. 

The long history of the Volta and the city dates back to 1929, when the Catalan rider Mariano Cañardo won the stage which took place in Girona. Since then the city has hosted numerous the starts and finishes of the race.