European professional racing will have a new start date in 2023. That's because the revived Classica Comunitat Valenciana 1969-Gran Premi Valenciana one-day race will be promoted to the 1.1 category this January.

Formerly known as the Grand Prix Luis Puig, the race will take place on January 22, and after two years as a 1.2 category race, it will be moved back to the 1.1 category, and with five WorldTour teams participating, this January race is an important step toward the race's complete return.

According to the race organization, Movistar, Cofidis, Arkea Samsic, AG2R Citroen, and Jayco Aiaura will be joined by newly demoted professional teams Lot Doustony and Israel Premier Tech, with 19 teams. Total Energies and four Spanish professional teams will also participate.

The 2023 route will also be radically different, starting in Valencia and finishing in the town of La Nucia near the coastal resort of Benidorm after 190 km of rugged racing. Belgium's Arnaud de Lier (Lot Destony) is currently the best-known athlete on the provisional start list for 2023.

Originally known as Classica Comunitat Valenciana when it began in 1969, it was renamed GP Luis Puig in 1981 in honor of Puig, a local Valencian.

Held for many years as a warm-up for the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, the one-day GP Luis Puig was won by such greats as Eric Zabel, Laurent Jalabert, Mario Cipollini, and Oscar Freire. In 2004, it was dissolved due to lack of sponsorship. Zabel and the late Noel Deyonchere each have a record of three wins, with Alessandro Petacchi being the most recent winner. Last year, Giovanni Lonardi (EOLO-KOMETA) was the winner.

The race, which will return in 2021, will likely favor fast men who can handle some steep climbs, just as they did in their heyday.

The sudden third class Alte de Beau will be the first challenge. However, the most important challenge will be the long, but not steep, second category Alto de Bishauca, about 30 km from the finish.

The Spanish cycling season kicks off with the Mallorca Challenge Series, a five-day one-day race in Calvià on January 25. Spain's first stage race, the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, will begin on February 1.