Four years after one of the largest wildfires in the Valencia region devastated the Marina Alta area, the scars of the disaster remain visible in the landscapes once traversed by professional and amateur cyclists alike. The 2022 wildfire that engulfed Vall d’Ebo and Vall d’Alcalà destroyed approximately 30,000 acres—an area comparable in size to San Francisco—burning forests, farmland, and forcing the evacuation of 1,500 residents.

The fire, ignited by a lightning strike on the evening of August 13, 2022, spread rapidly due to dense woodland and strong winds. Firefighting efforts faced significant challenges, with residents ordered to evacuate the following day. Ximo Sala, a firefighter with nearly four decades of experience, described the blaze as the most difficult he had encountered, warning that the affected mountainous terrain would take years to recover.

This region holds particular importance for cycling. The nearby coastal towns of Calpe and Dénia host professional cycling teams each winter for preseason training, and the routes through Puerto de Tollos and El Miserat are favored by pros and tourists. These areas, often showcased in races such as the Vuelta a España, were severely impacted by the 2022 fire. This year’s edition of the Vuelta, scheduled to conclude next Sunday, includes Stage 9 passing through the slowly regenerating terrain—a deliberate choice by organizers to highlight the ongoing threat of wildfires and foster public awareness.

Javier Guillén, general director of the Vuelta, emphasized how the race’s passage through burnt zones serves as a reminder of the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in Spain and Europe at large. This summer alone, nearly 1.6 million acres across Europe have burned, altering the landscapes integral to cycling’s Grand Tours. The sport has already been affected by wildfires disrupting race stages, notably the 2026 Tour de France, where fans were barred from the final 28 miles of Stage 3 due to nearby fires.

Locals like José Vicente, a lifelong resident of Alcalá de la Jovada, witnessed firsthand the wildfire’s destruction. He and others initially assisted firefighters before evacuation became necessary. Vicente highlighted the profound ecological and climatic shifts since the fire, noting that summer temperatures have increased and winters are milder, changes he attributes to the loss of forest cover which previously moderated the local microclimate.

While climate change is widely recognized as a contributing factor to hotter, drier conditions fueling wildfires, some residents point to the decline of rural land management as a key issue. Agricultural land maintenance in the Valencian region has decreased by more than 50% since 1999, resulting in overgrown vegetation that facilitates the spread of fires. Community members argue that neglect of traditional land care, combined with regulations limiting proactive measures, exacerbates the risk.

In response, Unipublic, the company organizing the Vuelta, has taken modest steps such as planting 2,000 native trees around Spain since 2022. The race’s presence in affected communities aims to restore a sense of normalcy and bring attention to the crisis, though organizers acknowledge that the event alone cannot solve these environmental challenges.

Authorities have also heightened wildfire preparedness during the event. For Stage 9, the regional Alicante government deployed 22 specialized firefighters and three fire trucks to monitor the route, though no incidents occurred. Despite these precautions, wildfires remain a persistent danger. Just miles from Stage 8’s start in Puçol, the largest wildfire in four decades was still smoldering near Valencia, clouding the area with smoke.

The experience of the Vuelta and other cycling tours underscores the increasing vulnerability of outdoor sports to climate-driven wildfires. As these fires reshape European landscapes and disrupt traditional events, organizers, communities, and authorities continue to grapple with the immediate and long-term implications of a changing environment.