Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 21/03/2016 - 27/03/2016 2.UWT

[Ruudz0r]

Last years final GC:
1. Richie Porte
2. Alejandro Valverde +0.04
3. Domenico Pozzovivo +0.05
4. Alberto Contador +0.07
5. Rigoberto Uran +0.18
6. Fabio Aru +0.27
7. John Darwin Atapuma +0.33
8. Rafael Valls +0.43
9. Wilco Kelderman +1.09
10. Daniel Martin +1.35

Last years race:
Stage 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC3BUfx5TBg
Stage 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMxvzclRS44
Stage 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2q-CdN9q2w
Stage 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQB0XpyND64
Stage 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz-y-Icz2AY
Stage 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RfywxfdCGM
Stage 7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Xal_yqDUk

2016 Route
Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

Stage 7

Startlist GC riders (provisional)
BMC Racing Team: Porte, Van Garderen, Sanchez
Movistar Team: N Quintana
Team Katusha: Rodriguez, Zakarin, Taaramae
Team Sky: Froome, Thomas, Nieve, Poels
Etixx Quick Step: D Martin, Brambilla
Astana Pro Team: Aru, Lopez, Rosa
Tinkoff: Contador
Orica GreenEDGE: Chaves
Lotto Soudal: Valls, De Clercq
Team Giant Alpecin: Dumoulin, Barguil
AG2R La Mondiale: Bardet, Pozzovivo
Lampre Merida: Meintjes
Trek Segafredo: Arredondo, Hesjedal
Team LottoNL Jumbo: Roglic, Kelderman (Gesink, Kruijswijk)
FDJ: -
Cannondale: Uran, Formolo, Woods
IAM Cycling: Frank, Pantano
Dimension Data: Kudus, Anton
Caja Rural: Pardilla, Arroyo
Cofidis, Solutions Credits: Navarro, Rossetto
CCC Sprandi Polkowice: De la Parte, Hirt
Roompot Oranje Peloton: Tolhoek
Verva Activejet Pro Cycling Team: Simon
Wanty Groupe Gobert: Degand



(semi) Sprinters Bouhanni, Rojas, Meersman, Swift, Gerrans, Van der Sande, Arndt, S Dumoulin, Cimolai, Reijnen, Manzin, Van Genechten, Gasparotto

 

[Ruudz0r]

Great race with an amazing field, I myself will be looking forward to what Lopez can do in a field like this.

 

[Lequack]

Nice startlist:

Source: http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=163654&c=3&stat_id=186

 

[Valv.Piti]

Looking forward to watch the first TdF-showdown between Froome, Quinco, Contador and Aru. Some really good mountain stages this year.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alberto Contador Velasco will win this bike race.

 

[Anderis]

Michael Woods to shock the cycling world with his performance in this bike race.

 

[Jspear]

1. Alberto
2. Froome
3. Chaves

 

[dacooley]

thomas
froome
contador

 

[Red Rick]

Talk about a race that desperately needs a time trial

 

[Jspear]

Re:

thomas
froome
contador

Sorry...too tough for Thomas.

 

[DNP-Old]

Amazing startlist. Here's hoping to Superman Lopez being able to ride his own race, rather than being just another helper to Aru. Lopez has been in great form thus far.

 

[dacooley]

Re: Re:

thomas
froome
contador

Sorry...too tough for Thomas.

A bit of bias never hurts

 

[Vasilis]

First time that Porte and Van Garderen link up, curious to see them ride together.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Froome will win.

 

[yaco]

A very strong race which will be an indicator for future GT's.

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

A very strong race which will be an indicator for future GT's.

Doubt it will really. This will only be Nairo's second race of the year, and his first since San Luis. Same story with Froome. Contenders like Contador and Porte on the other hand just raced on WorldTour level in Paris-Nice.

 

[DBotero]

Re:

A very strong race which will be an indicator for future GT's.

So if Froome finishes around 70th he'll win Le Tour

 

[Gigs_98]

Catalunya is usually actually not one of my favorite races (I don't really know why, I was just never really keen on it) but this year I can't wait for it. Froome is the big favorite IMO, but against Contador, Aru, Quintana and Porte + TJVG in one team, it should be fun.
Besides that I'm not sure about the route yet. The mountain stages should be fun, the last stage as well, but I don't know how hard the rest is. Just from the profiles they could all end in bunch sprints but possibly also be very entertaining (every stage but for stage 6, which I really expect to be boring)

 

[rick james]

Re:

Alberto Contador Velasco will win this bike race.

I'd say he's favourite for it right now.

 

[Publicus]

Are there any bonifications for this race?

 

[dacooley]

the most important question is as always if the weather allows to held all the mountains stages in full and broadcast them

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Alberto Contador Velasco will win this bike race.

I'd say he's favourite for it right now.

I think so too because Froome is generally not as strong in Catalunya and Alberto seemed very strong so far. But he said on twitter he feels a bit ill so maybe he will not be at his best (or maybe he wants us to think that )

 

[Jakub]

Re: Re:

Alberto Contador Velasco will win this bike race.

I'd say he's favourite for it right now.

I think so too because Froome is generally not as strong in Catalunya and Alberto seemed very strong so far. But he said on twitter he feels a bit ill so maybe he will not be at his best (or maybe he wants us to think that )

Dawg hasn't raced for some time, do Bertie should be clearly better.

1. AC
2. TLMRTP
3. NQ

 

[jaylew]

Re:

Michael Woods to shock the cycling world with his performance in this bike race.

Too late for that.

 

[Arredondo]

This is the race of the truth for Purito. If he really was sandbacking in Tirreno (which i think he did for 50%), he will win this bike race. It's his home race, on a course which is almost similair to the edition he won back in 2014.

1. Purito
2. Contador
3. Porte