Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2025, Spain, February 5-9

[Lequack]

This is where the stage races start proper in Europe. We've had the Mallorca one day races, now it's onto the mainland. It's Spain so that means plents of climbing, and even a TTT.

Notable GC/allaround mentions: O'Connor, Carlos Rodriguez, McNulty, Almeida, Martinez, Vlasov, Bilbao, Buitrago, Hindley, Arensman, Sivakov
Notable sprinters: Girmay, Milan, Thijssen, Groves

Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2025

www.procyclingstats.com

VCV - Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana - Official Website

Professional cycling stage race that runs through the three provinces of the Comunitat Valenciana. Part of the UCI international calendar

vueltacv.com

Live coverage: Eurosport/Max alternative should be covering the race, at least it did in the past, not sure about 2025.

Full startlist (not yet final):

Startlist for Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2025

Competing teams and riders for Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2025. Top competitors are Jonathan Milan, Ben O'Connor and João Almeida.

www.procyclingstats.com

 

[Lequack]

Stage 1 (TTT)»Orihuela›Orihuela(34.3km)

Stage 2»La Nucía›Benifato(166km)

Stage 3»Algemesí›Alpuente(180.3km)

Stage 4»Oropesa del Mar›Portell de Morella(181km)

Stage 5 (Final)»Alfafar›Valencia(104.2km)

 

[Tim Cahill]

Not sure if there is some sort of a mistake with the profiles?

Surely that isn't a 34.5k hilly tt in what is a relatively milquetoast 5 day early season Spanish race?

And what is with that display, that last stage makes it look like they're going down the Izoard mid stage or something.

Edit: Oh my god its a ttt, what are they doing here, I wondered why 3/4 of the Movistar guys were tters

 

[tobydawq]

Not sure if there is some sort of a mistake with the profiles?

Surely that isn't a 34.5k hilly tt in what is a relatively milquetoast 5 day early season Spanish race?

And what is with that display, that last stage makes it look like they're going down the Izoard mid stage or something.

Edit: Oh my god its a ttt, what are they doing here, I wondered why 3/4 of the Movistar guys were tters

The hills don't look too tough, but certainly an interesting parcours in general. A bit silly that the two final stages are the easiest, though.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The last stage with Oronet and Frontera has led to decent and unpredictable races both here and in the women's one-day race the past two editions (the weather has played its part as well), so it would have been nice to see the same sort of final once again. I hope it won't become a crash fest.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

This is one of the worst stage race routes I can remember. A 34k TTT in a five-day race is a joke and then either the second or the third stage will be the last GC day. Just awful all around.

 

[Peyroteo94]

This is one of the worst stage race routes I can remember. A 34k TTT in a five-day race is a joke and then either the second or the third stage will be the last GC day. Just awful all around.

This is like gifting the GC to UAE. They will kill this race already in the TTT

 

[Rockestar_33]

It'll be Almeida from O'Connor won't it?

 

[yaco]

Recent history of TTT's have shown only small gaps between the leading four or five teams, although this one is longer and more hilly.

 

[Berniece]

It'll be Almeida from O'Connor won't it?

Or Vlasov, he’s always good early in the season

 

[Rockestar_33]

Or Vlasov, he’s always good early in the season

Jayco are usually pretty good in the TTT, same with UAE.

Will be interested to see the difference between them.

 

[Squire]

Jayco are usually pretty good in the TTT, same with UAE.

Will be interested to see the difference between them.

Yeah, I don't think it's a given that UAE runs away with the TTT. Depends heavily on the lineups, and I haven't seen a complete startlist yet. Almost any of the WT teams can do well there.

 

[Rockestar_33]

Yeah, I don't think it's a given that UAE runs away with the TTT. Depends heavily on the lineups, and I haven't seen a complete startlist yet. Almost any of the WT teams can do well there.

Yeah, you're probably ruling out anyone that was in Australia or AlUla tour. I'd hazard we'd put Juul-Jensen and Sutterlin to carry a fair share of the TTT load, but we probably need one more, but the best riders for it (Durbo, Hepburn and Harper) raced in Australia on Sunday

 

[search]

Valenciana had a long(ish) TTT in 2017 and 2018 as well, so the organizers seem to like them. It doesn't result in a perfectly balanced race, but I honestly don't mind one to be included every couple of years.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

And what is with that display, that last stage makes it look like they're going down the Izoard mid stage or something.

That is a death defying 0.02% drop away, plummeting a full 9 metres in just 40 hair-raising kilometres.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Provisional startlist is out. UAE and Ineos should slaughter everyone in the TTT and then UAE should slaughter Ineos on the climbs (assuming Rodriguez isn't out and out the strongest rider in the race).

 

[yaco]

Yeah, you're probably ruling out anyone that was in Australia or AlUla tour. I'd hazard we'd put Juul-Jensen and Sutterlin to carry a fair share of the TTT load, but we probably need one more, but the best riders for it (Durbo, Hepburn and Harper) raced in Australia on Sunday

My understanding is Hepburn travelled to Europe after the TDU for this race. They should also have Matthews and Krinjsen in the line up to add power to the TTT.

Edit; No Matthews. I'd be happy if he avoided stage races and have a total focus on one day races for the beginning of the year. The Jayco team for the TTT is solid. You have to be careful on this circuit with the hilly parts to ensure you have riders left for the end.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Saw the stage profiles last night and thought ok wow, last stages are a bit easy, that's annoying.

And just read this thread and there's a 35km TTT. WHAT A JOKE.

TTTs are a plague on the sport at this point man. Nobody wants to watch them, nobody wants to do them, they serve no purpose except robbing what is usually a nice stage race of every competition.

Big teams with all the money to spend on aeros, equipment and rouleurs will have win the tour Valencia before it even begins.

Nobody looks back and reminisce their favourite team time trial. No rider gets motivated to be in the red zone for 30 minutes whilst trying to remember strict coordination of the rotation

Reminds me that 2018 Tirreno where the GC was between G Thomas, kiwatkowski and Caruso, even though none of them where the best gc riders in the race

The only redeeming factor will be if it's one of those gimmick ones, where the time is taken from the third rider to cross but he has to be at least 10 seconds behind the first 2 or something like that

 

[Davesta]

A hilly TTT on day one?
Clearly the organisers watched last year’s Ruta del Sol with pangs of jealousy and want to replicate the GC suspense 😂

 

[yaco]

Yeah, you're probably ruling out anyone that was in Australia or AlUla tour. I'd hazard we'd put Juul-Jensen and Sutterlin to carry a fair share of the TTT load, but we probably need one more, but the best riders for it (Durbo, Hepburn and Harper) raced in Australia on Sunday

Harper is going to the Oman Tour. Could do well if he rides a controlled race.

 

[RedheadDane]

A hilly TTT on day one?
Clearly the organisers watched last year’s Ruta del Sol with pangs of jealousy and want to replicate the GC suspense 😂

Hopefully they'll ride a bit more than a 5 K ITT...

 

[yaco]

Saw the stage profiles last night and thought ok wow, last stages are a bit easy, that's annoying.

And just read this thread and there's a 35km TTT. WHAT A JOKE.

TTTs are a plague on the sport at this point man. Nobody wants to watch them, nobody wants to do them, they serve no purpose except robbing what is usually a nice stage race of every competition.

Big teams with all the money to spend on aeros, equipment and rouleurs will have win the tour Valencia before it even begins.

Nobody looks back and reminisce their favourite team time trial. No rider gets motivated to be in the red zone for 30 minutes whilst trying to remember strict coordination of the rotation

Reminds me that 2018 Tirreno where the GC was between G Thomas, kiwatkowski and Caruso, even though none of them where the best gc riders in the race

The only redeeming factor will be if it's one of those gimmick ones, where the time is taken from the third rider to cross but he has to be at least 10 seconds behind the first 2 or something like that

Unfortunately for you of the sweeping statements. I enjoy TTT's. Recent history suggests the gaps between the top 4 or 5 times are small, however, this is longer and hillier, so the gaps could be larger.

 

[tobydawq]

Saw the stage profiles last night and thought ok wow, last stages are a bit easy, that's annoying.

And just read this thread and there's a 35km TTT. WHAT A JOKE.

TTTs are a plague on the sport at this point man. Nobody wants to watch them, nobody wants to do them, they serve no purpose except robbing what is usually a nice stage race of every competition.

Big teams with all the money to spend on aeros, equipment and rouleurs will have win the tour Valencia before it even begins.

Nobody looks back and reminisce their favourite team time trial. No rider gets motivated to be in the red zone for 30 minutes whilst trying to remember strict coordination of the rotation

Reminds me that 2018 Tirreno where the GC was between G Thomas, kiwatkowski and Caruso, even though none of them where the best gc riders in the race

The only redeeming factor will be if it's one of those gimmick ones, where the time is taken from the third rider to cross but he has to be at least 10 seconds behind the first 2 or something like that

I don't think you should project your own misgivings on the discipline unto the opinions of every bike rider in the world. I know (well, not personally) plenty of riders who've said they like the TTT. But I guess it's just your way to exaggerate a bit.

That said, I also think this is an abomination.

 

[Rockestar_33]

Provisional startlist is out. UAE and Ineos should slaughter everyone in the TTT and then UAE should slaughter Ineos on the climbs (assuming Rodriguez isn't out and out the strongest rider in the race).

I'm backing Jayco to be within touching distance of both. Strong TTT squad. Unfortunately only Zana to support BOC, although admittedly I don't know much about Donaldson

My understanding is Hepburn travelled to Europe after the TDU for this race. They should also have Matthews and Krinjsen in the line up to add power to the TTT.

Edit; No Matthews. I'd be happy if he avoided stage races and have a total focus on one day races for the beginning of the year. The Jayco team for the TTT is solid. You have to be careful on this circuit with the hilly parts to ensure you have riders left for the end.

Yeah it's a good TTT squad but I think the balance is a little off, would have preferred a Bouwman to probably Donaldson if we were aiming for a podium.

Harper is going to the Oman Tour. Could do well if he rides a controlled race.

He's in good form but a touch aggressive. I assume he's our GC guy for it? Or is it Dunbar/Hatherly?

Saw the stage profiles last night and thought ok wow, last stages are a bit easy, that's annoying.

And just read this thread and there's a 35km TTT. WHAT A JOKE.

TTTs are a plague on the sport at this point man. Nobody wants to watch them, nobody wants to do them, they serve no purpose except robbing what is usually a nice stage race of every competition.

Big teams with all the money to spend on aeros, equipment and rouleurs will have win the tour Valencia before it even begins.

Nobody looks back and reminisce their favourite team time trial. No rider gets motivated to be in the red zone for 30 minutes whilst trying to remember strict coordination of the rotation

Reminds me that 2018 Tirreno where the GC was between G Thomas, kiwatkowski and Caruso, even though none of them where the best gc riders in the race

The only redeeming factor will be if it's one of those gimmick ones, where the time is taken from the third rider to cross but he has to be at least 10 seconds behind the first 2 or something like that

I love TTT's. As a whole they're underused for me, I think the first ITT in the tour would be a perfect TTT instead.

 

[Berniece]

Purely based on their PCS TT points, UAE would be destroying the opposition. Luckily it's not that easy, although I still think they'll win.

Team	Points
UAE Team Emirates - XRG	1909
INEOS Grenadiers	997
Movistar Team	626
Lidl - Trek	612
Bahrain - Victorious	552
Team Jayco AlUla	336
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA	313
Israel - Premier Tech	237
Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe	235