The Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior, which only celebrated its premiere in 2022, will take place on 12 February 2024. However, big names have already won the race in the first two editions: 2023 year won Tadej PogacarAlexey Lutsenko at the premiere. Who will be crowned the winner of next year's Spanish one-day race, which is part of the UCI Europe Tour? This is the course that the professional cyclists have to master.
Route of the Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior 2024
The route of the road race runs through the province of Jaen in the south of Spain and connects the World Heritage cities of Baeza and Ubeda. The Caminos de Olivos are one of the main features of the race and are considered a trademark. These gravel passages make the race particularly exciting. And the changes to the route should also help to ensure an open and exciting competition without missing out on the highlights of previous editions.
"We like to make changes so that the race is unpredictable: Nobody knows how the race will go and the outcome is surprising," explains Pascual Momparler, head of Momparler Cycling, the organiser of the Gran Fondo and the Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior.
The riders start in Baeza and head towards Linare and on to the major climb to Iberos. After just under 50 kilometres, the first gravel section on the climb to Antonio Machado presents the professional cyclists with their first small test. At 3.8 kilometres, however, it is comparatively short. This is where Tadej Pogacar started his winning ride in 2023 and from here the race is repeatedly interspersed with gravel sections. Over the next 15 kilometres, the next gravel sections await with Cruz de Jaboneros (km 53.4; 3.7 km long) on the outskirts of Baeza and Soledades (km 60.2; 6 km long). At six kilometres, the gravel passage in Soledades is a longer one and also one of the novelties of the route, which runs towards Ubeda and has to be tackled four times during the race.
After a short descent, the riders have to contend with the fourth gravel section on the next, bigger climb. Valdeolivas is 5.4 kilometres long and leads uphill towards Ubeda. The race continues at Santa Eulalia (km 90.2; 2.5 km long) and Ubbadat (km 93.3; 6.2 km long) before entering the decisive phase. In the first edition, the winner Alexey Lutsenko launched his winning attack in Ubbadat, the longest gravel section.
3 rounds at the end
The three 20.4-kilometre final laps, during which the riders will be seen more often, are good news for the fans. Two gravel passages are mastered three times: Virgen de la Salud (km 103.6, 124.1 and 144.5; 5.7 km long) and Soledades again (km 112.5, 132.9 and 153.3; 6 km long). After 162 kilometres (thereof 62.7 kilometres of gravel) and 2550 metres altitude the Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior ends in Calle Obispo Cobos in front of the Hospital de Santiago.
The 12 gravel sections at a glance
- Antonio Machado (km 47.3; 3.8 km long)
- Cruz de Jaboneros (km 53.4; 3.7 km long)
- Soledades (km 60.2; 6 km long)
- Valdeolivas (km 74.6; 5.4 km long)
- Santa Eulalia (km 90.2; 2.5 km long)
- Ubbadat (km 93.3; 6.2 km long)
- Virgen de la Salud (km 103.6; 5.7 km long)
- Soledades (km 112.5; 6 km long)
- Virgen de la Salud (km 124.1; 5.7 km long)
- Soledades (km 132.9; 6 km long)
- Virgen de la Salud (km 144.5; 5.7 km long)
- Soledades (km 153.3; 6 km long)
Lukas Niebuhr
Working student
