Sport in Asturias Sport in Asturias Sport in Asturias has always been dominated by football. Other popular sport activities include basketball, cycling, handball, volleyball, roller hockey and rugby union. Asturias has also hosted a number of international events such as group stage games during the 1982 FIFA World Cup, series of the Davis Cup World Group, international roller hockey competitions, several cycling states of La Vuelta and several matches of the Spanish national football team. Asturias is also famous for several traditional sports, being the bowling the most important one. Association football is the most popular sport in Asturias. Sporting Gijón and Oviedo
Vuelta a España boost they brought to the circulations of their sponsoring newspapers ("L'Auto" and "La Gazzetta dello Sport" respectively); Juan Pujol of the daily "Informaciones" instigated the race to increase its circulation. It was originally held in the spring, usually late April, with a few editions held in June in the 1940s. In 1995, however, the race moved to September to avoid direct competition with the Giro d'Italia, held in May. As a result, the Vuelta is now often seen as an important preparation for the World Championships, which moved to October the same year. A Vuelta was also organized in August