Volta a Catalunya 2019 Route stage 6: Valls – Vila-seca
Valls and the Volta a Catalunya is a weathered combination. The birth place of the late Xavier Tondo mostly serves a finish. Alejandro Valverde (2018, 2015), Wout Poels (2016), Luka Mezgec (2014) and Simon Gerrans (2013) - they all won stages in Valls.
Once the flag is dropped the route gradually climbs to the highest point of the day, Coll d’Albarca. Actually, it is a sheer endless false flat with only the last kilometres standing out, although de Albarca remains friendly in the steeper sections: 5.5 kilometres at 3.1%. The peak lies at an elevation of 775 metres and the descent immediately continues onto the Coll d’Alforja: 4.2 kilometres at 4.6%.
The Alforja is crested at kilometre 80 and following a long descent the rest of the race is played out on rolling roads. The finish is in Vila-seca, which means ‘dry town’ and lies close to Salou. The arrival is slightly uphill.
The first three riders on the line win time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while two intermediate sprints (at kilometre 95 and at kilometre 156) come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds each.
Another interesting read: results/race report 6th stage 2019 Volta a Catalunya.
