The invention relates to a process for preparing a support for catalysts, which comprises: a) preparing a hydrogel; b) milling the hydrogel to give a finely particulate hydrogel; c) producing a slurry based on the finely particulate hydrogel; d) drying the slurry comprising the finely particulate hydrogel to give the support for catalysts, wherein a finely particulate hydrogel in which at least 5% by volume of the particles, based on the total volume of the particles, have a particle size in the range from >0 μm to ≦3 μm; and/or at least 40% by volume of the particles, based on the total volume of the particles, have a particle size in the range from >0 μm to ≦12 μm, and/or at least 75% by volume of the particles, based on the total volume of the particles, have a particle size in the range from >0 μm to ≦35 μm, is produced in step b).