100th Volta Ciclista a Catalunya(2.UWT) - 22nd March - 28th March

[RedheadDane]

Right, it's time for yet another WorldTour stage race, this time we (or rather the riders) are heading to Spain for the 100th edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.

Starlist hasn't been finalised yet, but here is a so-far one:

Startlist for Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2021 (procyclingstats.com)

A name of note is of course the real Chris Harper. While Marc Hirschi returns from wherever he disappeared off to.

Another very important - or maybe not - factor will be the Battle of the Twins! Where he'll see Adam and Simon Yates face up against each other for the first time since turning pro.

Profiles in following posts.

 

[RedheadDane]

Stage 1. Calella › Calella (178.4k)

 

[RedheadDane]

Stage 2. ITT - Banyoles › Banyoles (18.5k)

 

[RedheadDane]

Stage 3. Canal Olimpic de Catalunya › Vallter 2000 (203.1k)

 

[RedheadDane]

Stage 4. Ripol l› Port Ainé (166.5k)

 

[RedheadDane]

Stage 5. La Pobla de Segur › Manresa (201.1k)

 

[RedheadDane]

Stage 6. Tarragona › Mataró (193.8k)

 

[RedheadDane]

Stage 7. Barcelona › Barcelona (133k)

 

[RedheadDane]

Alright, @tobydawq, do your thing! Meaning the text-style profile describtions thing, not necessarily the start a whole new thread thing. Not sure the forum can handle anymore of that kind of madness.

 

[tobydawq]

Alright, @tobydawq, do your thing! Meaning the text-style profile describtions thing, not necessarily the start a whole new thread thing. Not sure the forum can handle anymore of that kind of madness.

I think I have to start charging a fee from the thread starter for such a service.

 

[tobydawq]

Regarding the race, it will be interesting to see who will go here. Without all the phenomenons of the sport from last week, it might even be quite open who ends up winning.

And an ITT in Catalunya? Nice, especially as it is located before the mountain stages. And the Barcelona stage has been great the past few years, except in 2020 where nothing happened.

 

[RedheadDane]

I think I have to start charging a fee from the thread starter for such a service.

Oh... so nobody will start threads, so you don't get ridiculed when you start a double, huh?

 

[Mayomaniac]

The route is pretty great.
Between this one, Tirreno-Adriatico, Itzulia, the Dauphine and the Tour de Suisse we're getting spoiled with great one week stage race routes during the first half of the season.

 

[BlueRoads]

Two of my most expensive cq picks finally start their season here, Kämna and Hirschi, so I'm excited to see how they go.
For GC this could become Carapaz vs. Almeida...?

 

[Fernandez]

Welcome to Spain, country free of flat stages

 

[SafeBet]

Two of my most expensive cq picks finally start their season here, Kämna and Hirschi, so I'm excited to see how they go.
For GC this could become Carapaz vs. Almeida...?

Carthy hasn't raced much thus far but is in good shape.
Hindley was improving during Paris-Nice, keep an eye on him.
Not sure about Carapaz since he'll make his debut here and he tends to start a bit slow, I think.

 

[Netserk]

Good to have an ITT in this race, but the route is getting stale, even if Molina is missing.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Good to have an ITT in this race, but the route is getting stale, even if Molina is missing.

Port Aine instead of La Molina is a nice addition.
I guess Steven Kruijswij willl be on of the main contenders here.

 

[Offline]

Marc Hirschi for GC?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

A.Yates for the win.

 

[Bonimenier]

Expecting a good performance from Carthy as he has a good TT in the legs. Almeida will probably be up there in the GC as well. But Carapaz is the big favourite in my eyes.

 

[tobydawq]

Pretty heavy schedule for Almeida. UAE Tour, Tirreno and now this. But then he doesn't have any races on his programme before the Giro.

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

Simon Yates taking part, looking to get more race fit...has to be one of the favourites alongside his brother if selected. Be cool to see the brothers attacking each other.

Catalunya, Alps, Giro for Simon.

 

[WKA311]

Very interested to see how Kämnas shape is straight out of training. He says it should be quite good but let's see. Kelderman will probably not be doing much here after the crash/recovery.
Champoussin has looked great so far, I hope he can do a good GC here. Vanhoucke and Almeida will be there, Kruijswijk and Bennett as well.
Let's see if Carthy and Hindely can confirm their GT levels from last year with them coming in form.
Movistar better hope that Mas and Soler have picked up form, I don't see Valverde doing much here.

Personally then I'll also be rooting for Kern Pharma and their climbers (Adría and Novikov) to do decent rides.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Crazy to think that this is the first Spanish* stage race of this season.

Climbs

Stage 1
Coll de Terra Negra

Port de les Guilleries

Port de Santa Fe del Montseny (final 13.9k only)

Port de Collsacreu

Stage 3
Collet de Sant Agusti

Vallter 2000

Stage 4
Port de Toses (minus the final 900m)

Port del Cantó

Port Ainé

Stage 5
Coll de Comiols

Colldarboç (first 4.8k of the profile below)

Port de Montserrat (the profile below as far as the junction at 1.6k)

Stage 6
Port de l'Ullastrell

Alt El Collet

Stage 7
Coll de la Creu d'Ordal

Then the main climb on the circuit is the final 900 meters of this (from the Ca Montjuic sign onwards):