Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2019, March 25-31

[Akuryo]

Tomorrow the next WT stage race will kick off.
Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

Stage 7

And we also have a pretty good startlist with Quintana, Valverde, Mas, Froome, Bernal, both Yates brothers, Miguel Angel Lopez, Nibali, Keldermann, Kruijswijk, Bardet, Dan Martin, Porte, Woods, Zakarin, Spilak amongst others.

 

[Robert5091]

Official Twitter for latest news at https://twitter.com/voltacatalunya

Climbers galore ! Even QS have Mas.

 

[Anderis]

Hugh Carthy will win this bike race.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Actually a pretty boring route. Wish some of the stages had some climbs nearer to the finish. OP missed the last stage which is the traditional Barcelona-stage.

But the startlist... wow.

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah the route has almost no variation and it's usually just a bit disappointing with the climbing field this race gets.

 

[RedheadDane]

And we also have a pretty good startlist with Quintana, Valverde, Mas, Froome, Bernal, both Yates brothers, Miguel Angel Lopez, Nibali, Keldermann, Kruijswijk, Bardet, Dan Martin, Porte, Woods, Zakarin, Spilak amongst others.

Just one Oliveira, though (Rui).

 

[Sestriere]

Are there no climbs above 6% average in Catalunya? Anyway, the strong lineup will hopefully deliver a spectacle regardless.

 

[armchairclimber]

A real stellar line up. Looks like Chaves is on domestique duties again though.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The route of stage 2 and 6 has been changed (see https://www.voltacatalunya.cat/en/news/2019/modifications-at-the-route-of-the-volta/179). For stage 2, they shortened the route between the second and third climb. More interestingly, they took out the lap around Vila-seca and replaced it by a longer section before the climbs, meaning there is a lot less flat towards the finish.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Are there no climbs above 6% average in Catalunya? Anyway, the strong lineup will hopefully deliver a spectacle regardless.

Vallter 2000 is a legit climb. Rest, not so much.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Are there no climbs above 6% average in Catalunya? Anyway, the strong lineup will hopefully deliver a spectacle regardless.

Vallter 2000 is a legit climb. Rest, not so much.

There's plenty of decent climbs in Catalunya, they just married the flat ones.

Mont Caro which they did for like 60% in 2017 was great.

 

[Lequack]

 

[Robert5091]

According to http://www.steephill.tv/volta-a-catalunya/ earliest TV time for stage 1 is 15.30 CET or 15.45 CET otherwise. (we get to see the last hour plus a bit more if we're lucky)

 

[Gigs_98]

Never been a big fan of this race. The route is usually rather boring, they always use huge highways and in general the most boring looking streets and the racing is usually rather predictable. It's one big mtf with action on the last 5 k, maybe another day with some minor gc action and that's it. Of all the wt one week stage races in spring this is probably my least favorite

 

[Velolover2]

Bernal vs. The Yates Bros.

 

[tobydawq]

Never been a big fan of this race. The route is usually rather boring, they always use huge highways and in general the most boring looking streets and the racing is usually rather predictable. It's one big mtf with action on the last 5 k, maybe another day with some minor gc action and that's it. Of all the wt one week stage races in spring this is probably my least favorite

Seconded.

 

[Red Rick]

Never been a big fan of this race. The route is usually rather boring, they always use huge highways and in general the most boring looking streets and the racing is usually rather predictable. It's one big mtf with action on the last 5 k, maybe another day with some minor gc action and that's it. Of all the wt one week stage races in spring this is probably my least favorite

Seconded.

Thirded

 

[Valv.Piti]

I think thats like how most people feel about the race. I remember one great edition, 2015, which was pretty hilly and windy as which made for some nice stages. But otherwise, its pretty boring most of it, altho the last stage always provides great racing.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Next year will be different
they start in Alghero the Catalan speaking city in Sardinia!
No big hill but a great place.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Next year will be different
they start in Alghero the Catalan speaking city in Sardinia!
No big hill but a great place.

Really? That's pretty cool.

Not many one-week races venture abroad. I remember the Tour of Poland once having stages in Italy, and I think in Slovakia. The Tour de Suisse often visits Sölden in Austria but otherwise this probably doesn't happen a lot.

Edit: And how weird that there is a Catalan speaking city in Sardinia?!

 

[Koronin]

Hopefully Valverde gets a 3 peat.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Next year will be different
they start in Alghero the Catalan speaking city in Sardinia!
No big hill but a great place.

Really? That's pretty cool.

Not many one-week races venture abroad. I remember the Tour of Poland once having stages in Italy, and I think in Slovakia. The Tour de Suisse often visits Sölden in Austria but otherwise this probably doesn't happen a lot.

Edit: And how weird that there is a Catalan speaking city in Sardinia?!

That does seem a bit strange.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

Bernal vs. The Yates Bros.

There is going to be a massive sprint of 20 climbers. And you know who is going to win that sprint!
Very underwhelming route and CN put it. This race do not deserve this start list!

 

[Lequack]

It will be interesting they dynamics between the two Yates, they both seem in form. And between Froome and Bernal.

 

[Tonton]

Valverde has to be the favorite, but the field is loaded. What a quality win it would be for El Tibo!