The 103rd Volta Ciclista a Catalunya will have a stellar route and participation

The best cycling show is guaranteed. On this cold Wednesday afternoon, February 28, the headquarters of the National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC) became the capital of cycling on the occasion of the presentation of 103rd edition of the men’s Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and the first of the women’s Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. In the past, some details of the route of the oldest event in Spanish cycling were known, but now, the order of all the stages and all their details are known.

As in 2023, Volta begins a phase that begins and ends Sant Feliu de Guíxolsa day of contact that will not be easy, with a third category and two second category altitudes, the last of which, the Alt of Sant Graujust over 14 kilometers from the finish line, in a scenario where the stage could break.

After this first attack, came the second, with the same proposal in 2023, starting from Mataró and when it comes to Valter after 186.5 kilometers. A classic climb in the Catalan round that will not leave anyone indifferent. On the third day came the first big novelty of this year, with the stage that goes from Sant Joan de les Abbesses until Port Aine. A very tough day’s racing, with an initial 1st category port of Port de Tosesthe special category of Port del Cantó (km 130) and the outcome in Port Aineof the special category, in the second outcome in altitude and in another in ski and mountain stations of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC).

BETTING ON WOMEN’S CYCLING

Another highlight of this afternoon at INFEC was the presentation of the first edition of the women’s Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. This race, taking over the original one-day reVolta, now has three days. The first, starts and ends in Manresa, on the first day of 100.7 km and two third category ports. Change of scenery on the second day, with the climb to La Molina (1st) after starting from La Seu d’Urgell and covering 95.7 kilometers; and in the third and final attack, starting at Molins de Rei and ending at Barcelona.

A Volta without stopping

Volta continues at full speed in the third round, starting at Sort, the 2nd port, Port d’Agerhalf the route, path of Lleida. An ideal day for escape and marked with a downward accent. The same result is expected in the fifth round of the Catalan round, with two second place finishes in between (Coll de Les Ventases and Alt de la Creu d’Aragall), before finishing in Viladecans. A penultimate assault likely to be decided after kilometer 140, less than 30 km from the finish line, after completing the second mountainous difficulty of the day.

The long-awaited stage

Undoubtedly, for many fans, this is the long-awaited Volta episode. Since it never rains to everyone’s liking, the profile may not please everyone, but the truth is that the 154.7 kilometers in Berguedà, between Berga and Queralt, They should take your hat off. With five mountain passes of obvious difficulty and a ‘final mountain range’ only for the bravest, including Coll de Prades (special), followed by Collada de Sant Isidre (1st) and the ascent to Queralt, with the final blessing of Mare de Déu de Queralt.

It’s been a day American ‘local’ Sepp Kuss, winner of the 2023 Vuelta, is already managing to advertise with a video where he is seen climbing the Santuari and encouraging all the fans to go to the canals to cheer their idols. It will, no doubt, be a great day of cycling.

A WONDERFUL PARTICIPATION

Since it cannot be given an event category, the participation of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunmya will be stellar. Above all, the figure of the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, double winner of the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021, stands out; from American Sepp Kuss, winner of the 2023 Vuelta; from Colombian Egan Bernal, winner of the 2021 Giro and the 20’19 Tour and 3rd in the 2019 Volta, and has a love/hate relationship with the Catalan round; from Welshman Geraint Thomas, 2018 Tour champion and 3rd in the 2021 Vote; as well as the Spaniards Enric Mas or Mikel Landa or the British Simon Yates, who has not attended the Volta since 2022 and who was 4th in 2018 as his best result.

And, after the show in the viewpoint of Bergathe classic outcome in the city of Barcelona, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ magical mountain of Montjuïcincluding six climbs to Alt del Castell before finding out who won the Slovenian Volta honors list Primoz Roglicwho in the last edition won the game against the Belgians Remco Evenepoel, in a show that has all the cycling numbers to repeat this year.

“It will be a Volta with stellar participation, with demanding and varied routes, clearly focused on showing the territory to the world. president of the Volta Rubèn Peris.