O Gran Camiño 2025 (February 26 - March 2)

[Devil's Elbow]

Welcome to cycling's coldest preseason race. As ever, the route design is great, but the clash with opening weekend and the Ardèche/Drôme one-day races means the field leaves a lot to be desired. On the plus side, no Vingegaard should make for a much more competitive battle this time round.

Startlist

Stage 1: Maia - Matosinhos, 189.7k
The race's first-ever foray outside Galicia is a stage entirely on Portuguese soil. Four and a half years after the Vuelta cancelled its Portuguese leg due to Covid, Matosinhos finally gets its Spanish stage race finish, and just as it was planned then it will be a sprint stage.

Starts at: 13:00 CET (12:00 local time)
Broadcast starts at: 15:30 CET
Finishes at: 17:07 - 17:31 CET

Spoiler: Climbs

Monte São Felix (first 1.2k only, on cobbles):

Stage 2: Marín - A Estrada, 133.1k
The first uphill finish. While this is not a brutal stage by any means (in fact, it's pretty soft given the available terrain), it should definitely tell us who are going to be up there in the GC battle.

Starts at: 13:45
Broadcast starts at: 15:30
Finishes at: 16:55 - 17:15

Spoiler: Climbs

San Vicenzo (2x):

A Estrada (2x):

Stage 3: Ourense - O Pereiro, 15.6k (ITT)
It may not quite be a MTT, but it's definitely one for the climbers.

First rider starts at: 14:50
Broadcast starts at: 15:30
Last rider finishes at: 17:17 - 17:19

Spoiler: Climbs

Alto de Sabadelle:

Stage 4: A Pobra de Brollón - O Cebreiro, 137.2k
The queen stage, and what a stage it is. It's a shame it clashes with Omloop, because this should be a spectacle.

Starts at: 13:40
Broadcast starts at: 15:30
Finishes at: 17:05 - 17:28

Spoiler: Climbs

Alto de Campo do Arbre:

Alto de Catro Ventos (first 8.7k only):

Alto da Pintinidoira (KOM after 10.0k but ridden in full):

O Cebreiro (1.1k at 6.6%, then the profile below from 4.6k to 7.64k - total climb is 4.1k at 5.4%):

Stage 5: Betanzos - Santiago de Compostela, 159.9k
A fairly intriguing final stage, but sadly the side of Lampai they are using (they could have done the steep side that they took in stage 11 of last year's Vuelta) makes it a lot harder to see major GC action here. However, the sterrato sections are insanely narrow (this is one of the actual pilgrim routes to Santiago), so things could still get hectic.

Starts at: 11:15
Broadcast starts at: 13:30
Finishes at: 14:53 - 15:14

Spoiler: Climbs

Alto de Lampai (only the first 4.4k):

Sterrato sections:

 

[Netserk]

Last race of the pre-season!

However, the sterrato sections are insanely narrow (this is one of the actual pilgrim routes to Santiago)

Fittingly, the route from Portugal.

 

[titan31]

Guessing GC is between likes of Gee, Vansevanant, Cepeda and Piganzoli. Maybe could be a shock from guys like Berrade or one of the Uno X guys.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

With the TT Gee should be the clear favorite.

 

[search]

With the TT Gee should be the clear favorite.

Jeffo is good on the TT bike as well, and unlike Gee, he has proven to be in good shape already. I'd be surprised if Gee wins this.

 

[tobydawq]

Jeffo is good on the TT bike as well, and unlike Gee, he has proven to be in good shape already. I'd be surprised if Gee wins this.

No he isn't.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I am travelling to Galicia on Friday, although will be with a mate who doesn't care about cycling. At the moment trying to convince him that we need to wacth Sunday stage. This is a fantastic route

 

[search]

No he isn't.

relatively speaking, of course. On a course like here, I'd be surprised if he loses more than 10-20s to Gee, if at all.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I am travelling to Galicia on Friday, although will be with a mate who doesn't care about cycling. At the moment trying to convince him that we need to wacth Sunday stage. This is a fantastic route

Are you friends with David Lappartient/Richard Plugge/insert your own favourite culprit?

Carlos Canal shouldn't be underestimated on home roads. I'll probably jinx him by writing this, but Txomin Juaristi could actually score a decent result here.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

relatively speaking, of course. On a course like here, I'd be surprised if he loses more than 10-20s to Gee, if at all.

Cepeda just need to pretend the time trial is in Ecuador and he'll be able to contend the gc

 

[Brullnux]

Quite a weak field. Why didn't Astana enter?

 

[Rob5091]

Quite a weak field. Why didn't Astana enter?

Only 2.1 race and with races this weekend (1.pro Faun-Ardèche Classic etc) easier pickings to be had.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

So we have two Volta winners in the break, but no one breaks a sweat.

 

[RedheadDane]

Now, there's some cool on-screen information!

 

[Rob5091]

So apart from Cort who'll be going for the sprint?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

So apart from Cort who'll be going for the sprint?

Lonardi, Canal and Warlop perhaps?

 

[search]

Macias is around again as well

 

[Rob5091]

Things hoting up now the break's been caught.

 

[RedheadDane]

A total of 11 stages have been raced over the year.
7 of those were won by a Dane.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

A total of 11 stages have been raced over the year.
7 of those were won by a Dane.

And one of those 11 stages wasn't really raced either. Tarling would probably have won anyway though.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Marcellusing time, and Uno-X have now taken over from Efapel at the front of the peloton.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Berrade's in trouble.

 

[Rob5091]

FDJ Groupama is now listed on PCS as the WT team not the CT/Devo team (even though 4 of the 6 riders are on the CT/devo team).
Matt Walls a DNS (another with the "sickness" ) FDJ on Facebook

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

FDJ Groupama is now listed on PCS as the WT team not the CT/Devo team (even though 4 of the 6 riders are on the CT/devo team).
Matt Walls a DNS (another with the "sickness" ) FDJ on Facebook

Yeah and Walls who could've won a couple of stages here DNS due to illness

 

[Netserk]

Here comes the Polti train! Vai Lonardi!