Historic Sitges-Barcelona vintage car rally back after pandemic hiatus

The 64^th edition of the Sitges-Barcelona vintage car rally was able to take place in person on Sunday for the first time since 2019, with around 50 old vehicles making their way from the Catalan capital down the Garraf coast.

After being canceled in 2020 and forced online in 2021 due to the pandemic, participants were finally able to flaunt the best of their early 20th-century attire and compete in cars manufactured before 1928 as well as motorcycles from 1938 or older.

Turnout was somewhat below pre-pandemic levels, but excitement levels among participants and onlookers were still high. 

"We'd been waiting for this day all year, especially after the pandemic," Gaspar Alarcón told the Catalan News Agency. Alarcón has been competing his 1928 Ford A for the past 10 years.

"It's wonderful to be back," he said. 

The event is equally important for fashion enthusiasts, like Ana de la Cruz, who traveled to Barcelona all the way from the southern Catalonia city of Reus. A seamstress, her dress was ready a full two weeks before the rally.

"I was already wearing it on the train on my way over here," she said, adding that she was "very excited" to be there. 

The entire route from Plaça Sant Jaume, in Barcelona's old town, to Sitges, is 46 km, took around three hours.