The invention relates to a catalyst support and to a method for the production of the catalyst support comprising the following steps: a) production of a silicic acid hydrogel having a solids content of from 10 to 25% by weight (calculated as SiO2) whose particles are substantially spherical, b) extraction of the hydrogel particles with an alcohol until at least 60% of the water present in the hydrogel has been removed, c) drying of the resultant hydrogel until the residual alcohol content is less than 10% by weight (xerogel formation) at temperatures of ≧160° C. at atmospheric pressure using an inert entraining gas, d) setting of the desired particle size of the resultant xerogel, in which the hydrogel particles have a particle size of ≧8 mm before the extraction, and to a catalyst and to a method for the production of the catalyst by loading the catalyst support with a chromium compound. The invention also relates to a method for the production of polyolefins using the catalyst.