Rafael Nadal

Tennis fans will be able to see Spain and the Czech Republic go head-to-head in the event at the Palau Sant Jordi from December 4th to 6th.

Some of the biggest names in tennis have taken part in the Davis Cup this year and could appear in the final, including Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco for Spain and Radek Stepanek for the Czech Republic.

Barcelona previously hosted the final of the international tournament in 2000.

Jordi Hereu, mayor of the city, said: “The federation will not regret selecting us to host this event. The city will show the world once more we can guarantee international events are a success.”

Tennis fans will also be able to plan some trips abroad next year to catch up with the ATP World Tour, which will feature events including the French Open in Paris in May.

Tour de France comes to Barcelona

On July 9th, the sixth stage of the famous cycle race will arrive in Barcelona, departing the city the following day to head to Andorra.

The Barcelona city council said that it would be receiving the Tour de France with “the world’s largest yellow wave”, which will provide a bright route for the cyclists to follow as they approach the finishing line.

To create the wave, spectators will be given yellow sheets to raise in the air as the cyclists pass by.

The convoy that travels with the Tour de France is expected to arrive in Barcelona at around 15:00 on July 9th, with the competitors due to follow at 17:00.

After covering a distance of some 3,500km, the race will come to an end on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on July 26th.

Tour de France '09 comes to Barcelona

The sixth section of this year’s Tour will be a race from Girona to Barcelona on July 9th, while the seventh stage will see the competitors set off from the Catalan capital on July 10th on their way to Andorra.

Sports fans  in Paris will also have a chance to experience the wonder of the Tour when the Champs Elysees hosts the grand finale of this year’s contest on July 26th.

Other destinations that will be visited by the riders during their epic journey include Monaco on July 4th and 5th, Marseille on July 6th and Verbier in Switzerland on July 19th.

The gruelling race will see the athletes cover ten flat stages and seven mountain sections, covering a total distance of 3,500km.

Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times between 1999 and 2005, making him the most successful competitor in the event’s history. The reigning champion is Carlos Sastre of Spain.

Barcelona Moto GP

The race will be held at the Circuit de Catalunya just outside Barcelona on June 14th.

Casey Stoner recently took an early lead in the 2009 MotoGP World Championship when he won the first race of the season in Qatar.

Reigning champion Valentino Rossi came in second and Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo completed the top three.

Motegi in Japan will be the next stop in the World Championship season on April 26th, followed by races in Jerez, Le Mans and Mugello before the showdown at the Circuit de Catalunya.

The MotoGP grand prix will not be the only major motorsport event coming to Barcelona this year, with the fourth race in the 2009 Formula One season due to be held in the Catalan capital on May 10th.

Lewis Hamilton and his fellow F1 drivers will return to Spain in August for the Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia.

Toro Rosso races in the Wet

The 2009 Formula One World Championship will get underway in Melbourne at the end of this month, followed by races in Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Sakhir in April.

Visitors to Barcelona will be able to see the next grand prix on the weekend beginning May 8th, with the qualifying run on May 9th and the main race the following day.

Last year, this race was won by Ferrari’s Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen, with his team-mate Felipe Massa coming in second and eventual world champion Lewis Hamilton finishing third.

As ever, the 2009 grand prix will see plenty of support for Spanish driver and former world champion Fernando Alonso.

Motor racing fans visiting Barcelona in May might also be interested in the International Motor Show, which will be held at the Fira de Barcelona from May 9th to 17th.