The municipality of Villena has received the ‘Más Bici’ seal from La Vuelta, a national distinction that rewards the promotion of cycling as a means of transport, sports practice, and tourist resource. This recognition, driven by the social program “La Vuelta es Más”, places Villena among the 18 Spanish municipalities honored in the 2026 edition. Within the province of Alicante, Villena joins Benidorm, Calpe, Castalla, Orihuela, and Torrevieja as distinguished localities this year.
The Councilor for Urban Mobility, Francisco Iniesta, collected the award last Sunday in La Vila Joiosa, minutes before the start of the cycling event. Iniesta highlighted that being part of this group of recognized cities demonstrates that “we are doing things right” and that Villena “is advancing in new mobility, moving away from private motor vehicles and seeking more sustainable, safer alternatives that make our environment a more comfortable place with less pollution, less noise, and more spaces for coexistence”.
The councilor thanked the work of civil society and the involvement of collectives such as Villena en Bici, which promotes initiatives for the use of bicycles in all areas and works on raising awareness for a new mobility model, maintaining agreements with the City Council. He also emphasized the city's “consolidated cycling tradition with different sports clubs and a huge fanbase”.
Villena's candidacy was evaluated by a specialized jury from the Network of Cities and Territories for Cycling (RedBici). The committee assessed the municipality's progress in five key areas: governance, infrastructure, services and education, sport, and tourism. Campaigns such as “30 Días en Bici,” the implementation of Safe School Environments, the associative fabric linked to cycling, the development of the cycle lane network, and the Police's participation in road safety education campaigns were taken into account.
