It seems that the great one-week cycling races have to be jack, horse and king, that there is hardly any room to surprise on the course. And the Volta a Catalunya, which celebrates its 102nd edition in March (from 20 to 26), has endeavored to show that it is possible to innovate, that it can be given a twist, that there is space to do different things and fight against the homogenization of itineraries.
It has been the only one of its category on the UCI World Tour calendar for some time now that does not have an individual time trial (with the break of 2021) and it is dedicated to making the most of the orography in search of excitement. Without going any further, last year there were six different leaders in the first six days.
But this time the organization, led by Rubèn Peris, has outdone itself by planning the most mountainous race in its history. The usual thing was to make two incursions into the Pyrenees. But this edition will keep a surprise. “What will make it different is that it will have three high finals,” explained the director of the Volta a Catalunya.
There will be three mountain stages in just seven days of competition, plus the final day at the Montjuïc circuit, with six explosive ascents to Castell. But it is that the other three days are also marked out with ramps and leg-breaking terrain, such as the one that in 2022 served the Colombian Sergio Higuita (Bora) to turn the general overturn with a distant attack by the Sierra del Montsant. Three special category ports will be raised, four first, eight second and eight third. “We design demanding and attractive routes”, analyzed Peris.
Each stage has its crumb. The race will start on March 20 from Sant Feliu de Guíxols, where the finish line will also be. And the first mountain test will come soon, in the second stage, with the finish in Vallter 2,000. The next day, more wood, the Volta will go up to La Molina after passing through the Coll de la Creueta.
On Thursday the race stops in Sabadell, where it has not finished since 2001. And the big news awaits Friday in Terres de l’Ebre, with the recovery of Lo Port, Mont Caro. A final climb of 8 kilometers with an average slope of 9% and ramps of 20%. “He has the necessary hardness to be decisive,” they warn.
The Volta has always been a race conducive to climbers. Just take a look at the latest winners. And the list of participants is up to an enviable track record. The current world and Vuelta champion, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step), is the big star. But the Catalan round will also feature Primoz Roglic (Jumbo), one of the two Slovenians who have dominated cycling in the last five years. The young Belgian and the veteran have the Giro on their calendar and should already be in good shape. The one who does know what it is to shine on the Catalan roads is Egan Bernal (Ineos), who did it in 2018 and 2019, the year in which he won the Tour. In addition, Juan Ayuso (UAE) and Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos) will once again fight to show all their talent. The show is guaranteed. “The Volta is fitter than ever,” Peris congratulated himself.
The fun will move on April 29 to the ReVolta, the women’s event – ??a one-day classic that is in its fourth edition – and that in a very short time has become and consolidated as a UCI 1.1 race. “It was mandatory to take the international step,” they say from the organization.
