Volta a Catalunya, 23-29 March 2026

[Salvarani]

This is so 2013

I will never forget peak Betancur hype either dude

 

[jotafap]

I will never forget peak Betancur hype either dude

Idk if i even remember it right, but when you talk about Betancur, my thoughts go automatically to his duel vs Majka at Giro 201* (and something) for the white jersey, and i think he got it.

 

[Salvarani]

Idk if i even remember it right, but when you talk about Betancur, my thoughts go automatically to his duel vs Majka at Giro 201* (and something) for the white jersey, and i think he got it.

He sure did. 3rd in Fleche and 4th in LBL right before that as well.

He then ended his career after a win in Paris-Nice in 2014, but rode on for fun another five years.

 

[SHAD0W93]

He sure did. 3rd in Fleche and 4th in LBL right before that as well.

He then ended his career after a win in Paris-Nice in 2014, but rolled on for fun another five years.

 

[memyselfandI]

And needs more deep wrinkles and leathered skin like a true, hardcore Marlboro man!

I think his leather is skinny enough in any scale as I remember him being 'zero fat' veins popping already in his junior years..

 

[memyselfandI]

Need to see if Remco starts slapping his thighs early in coming days or is it real deal this week, because then it's fun to watch (there are others here too)

 

[Squire]

I will never forget peak Betancur hype either dude

Not sure how he entered the conversation, but those were the days! And I remember when he briefly looked like his old self again in the Hammer series in 2017 after being fat for years, and Axelgaard made him top 3 favourite for Tour de Suisse. We all thought he was back. Which he might actually have been by the time the Vuelta rolled around that year, but then he crashed out while following the attacks of Froome and Contador.

 

[fenns]

Gordon looks like Robert Redford as the Sundance Kid

 

[Eagle_Alps]

Has anyone seen the photo finish image? The picture of Dorian G...😄

 

[Andre]

A fair few surprising names losing time. Lecerf, Gualdi, Svestad-Bårdseng, Tuckwell, Novak, Langelotti, Rubio, JSM, Gee-West etc.

Not sure if anything happened to anyone or if they just don't have any goals in the race.

Lecerf lost time¿ I'm surprised cause I think towards the end with a few kilometers to go I thought I saw him right at the front

 

[jmdirt]

That French kid timed that well!

 

[Unchained]

Need to see if Remco starts slapping his thighs early in coming days or is it real deal this week, because then it's fun to watch (there are others here too)

Captain Cramps

 

[Oldman]

Need to see if Remco starts slapping his thighs early in coming days or is it real deal this week, because then it's fun to watch (there are others here too)

He seemed to be on point, descended well and was not buried in the Pack. Looks like he may be riding and learning well. Hoped he's win that grinding sprint, though.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

How hard is the climb today from Olot? Will some sprinters be dropped?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

How hard is the climb today from Olot? Will some sprinters be dropped?

Including the section into Olot, it should be roughly this. Very easy.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Including the section into Olot, it should be roughly this. Very easy.

I look forward to watching only dainese failing to hold on to the peloiton then

 

[search]

the finish is sth around 400m at 4%, on from the final corner. Not too hard, but it needs a good position.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

The final isn‘t too technical, but there‘s still a lot of downhill in those last 30 k, could be nervous, although Catalunya sprint stages are usually mostly relaxed.

 

[Rob5091]

Vingegaard playing it safe on stage 1, which is understandable with the current high speed, high risk racing.
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...eps-it-controlled-amid-catalunya-sprint-chaos

Vingegaard, by contrast, held his position just behind that front group, ultimately crossing the line in 11th place. Close enough to avoid any splits, but deliberately removed from the most chaotic and high-risk moments of the finish. “It’s a hard finale. It goes uphill, so you also have to ride with it in some way. But I’m not going to risk life and limb to go for the win.”

 

[Potomac]

Luckily we see converge of the climb to Alt del Purgatori.
Maybe I should say we are lucky we won't have to listen to the commentators talking about Purgatori.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Can someone who knows how to make a poll set up a poll thread about Evenepoel vs Vingegaard on the big climbs in Catalunya?

I think Remco is currently at Jonas’ level on the climbs, but I want to gauge public opinion before the race makes hindsight takes too easy. It would be interesting to make people’s priors explicit now, before the results are known. Some people may be in for a big surprise, including me.

Question:
Across the big GC climbs in Catalunya, who will gain time on who, Evenepoel vs Vingegaard?

Response options:

1. Vingegaard gains time on every big climb
2. Vingegaard gains time overall, but Evenepoel gains time on at least one climb
3. They break even overall (within 10 seconds either way)
4. Evenepoel gains time overall, but Vingegaard gains time on at least one climb
5. Evenepoel gains time on every big climb
   

 

[Pozzovivo]

Or more specific:


Vallter 2000

• Vingegaard gains 20 seconds or more
• Vingegaard gains 1 to 19 seconds
• No time difference
• Evenepoel gains 1 to 19 seconds
• Evenepoel gains 20 seconds or more

Coll de Pal

• Vingegaard gains 20 seconds or more
• Vingegaard gains 1 to 19 seconds
• No time difference
• Evenepoel gains 1 to 19 seconds
• Evenepoel gains 20 seconds or more

Stage 6 overall

• Vingegaard gains 20 seconds or more
• Vingegaard gains 1 to 19 seconds
• No time difference
• Evenepoel gains 1 to 19 seconds
• Evenepoel gains 20 seconds or more

 

[AmRacer]

Or more specific:


Vallter 2000

• Vingegaard gains 20 seconds or more
• Vingegaard gains 1 to 19 seconds
• No time difference
• Evenepoel gains 1 to 19 seconds
• Evenepoel gains 20 seconds or more

Coll de Pal

• Vingegaard gains 20 seconds or more
• Vingegaard gains 1 to 19 seconds
• No time difference
• Evenepoel gains 1 to 19 seconds
• Evenepoel gains 20 seconds or more

Stage 6 overall

• Vingegaard gains 20 seconds or more
• Vingegaard gains 1 to 19 seconds
• No time difference
• Evenepoel gains 1 to 19 seconds
• Evenepoel gains 20 seconds or more

Better poll Jonas against the rest, Remco will be dropped by multiple riders.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Better poll Jonas against the rest, Remco will be dropped by multiple riders.

That is just a different poll. I don't care about that.

 

[SafeBet]

A fair few surprising names losing time. Lecerf, Gualdi, Svestad-Bårdseng, Tuckwell, Novak, Langelotti, Rubio, JSM, Gee-West etc.

Not sure if anything happened to anyone or if they just don't have any goals in the race.

Gualdi finished 5th, which is a very promising result in such a field.
Most of the others you mention are likely riding as domestiques so I would expect them to let go once their job is done.