The Govern promotes a high-altitude training centre in Bagà to attract international sports elite

The Govern is backing a new high-altitude training centre at Coll de Pal. The initiative seeks to improve the preparation of Catalan athletes. Bagà will become an international reference point for sports training stays. The project includes development phases and possible new facilities.

The decision to promote a satellite site of the Centre d’Alt Rendiment (CAR) in Bagà could transform the preparation of athletes in Catalonia. The Govern and Bagà Town Council have signed an agreement to develop this new space at Coll de Pal, an area more than 2,000 metres above sea level offering unique conditions for training in natural hypoxia.

The plan is part of Catalonia’s strategy to strengthen high-performance sport, with the CAR de Sant Cugat as its core and new facilities complementing the network. The aim is to meet the specific needs of each discipline and consolidate Catalonia as an international benchmark.

Training at altitude forces the body to adapt to the lower availability of oxygen, increasing red-blood-cell production and improving oxygen-carrying capacity. This adaptation is key for endurance sports such as cycling and long-distance running, where cardiovascular efficiency makes the difference.

The Govern considers that Coll de Pal represents an opportunity to make a qualitative leap in the preparation of Catalan athletes. The location will make it possible not only to optimise training but also to create an ecosystem linking sport, territory and new opportunities for the region.

The signed protocol establishes institutional cooperation to define the centre’s model, draw up technical projects and attract sports training stays. Development is planned in several phases: from the feasibility study and adaptation of the facilities to the consolidation of the centre with international reach. Among the options under consideration is the construction of an athletics track in Bagà.

The Centre d’Alt Rendiment (CAR) de Sant Cugat is a benchmark for the training and preparation of elite athletes in Catalonia. Since its creation, it has promoted sporting excellence and served as a model for other centres in Europe. Its approach combines innovation, science and personalised support, enabling numerous Catalan athletes to reach the highest level in international competitions. The expansion to new satellite sites responds to the need to diversify training environments and make use of the territory’s natural resources.

Phases and key dates (3 Apr 2026): the Protocolo Govern-Ayuntamiento Bagà begins feasibility work + adaptation at Coll Pal (FGC 86 ha). Berni Álvarez: “Qualitative leap, sport-territory ecosystem”. Athletics track + international stays. Natural hypoxia >2,000 m cycling/long-distance.