Volta a Catalunya 2015: The Route

The Volta a Catalunya is a race for mountain goats. Edition 2015 features even more climbs, at the same time there is only one high-altitude finish, this to avoid bad weather. Title defender Joaquim Rodriguez will not participate this year due to sickness. The race starts on 23 March and contains seven stages. Obviously the finish is in Barcelona.

The 95th Volta a Catalunya starts on the Costa Brava. The opening-stage Calella-Calella is a regular since 2012, though the route is never the same. This time it features an inland spin with three categorized climbs.

In stage 2, riders head for the hinterland to arrive in Olot, beautifully situated amidst the The Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. Stage 3 both starts and finishes in 'cyclists capitol' Girona, another regular in the Volta a Catalunya. Last year Luka Mezgec won a stage there, this time it's unlikely for a sprinter to succeed given the five climbs.

The 4th stage in the Volta a Cataluya is set to detonate the fireworks, featuring the only HC- climb in the six-day race. The Coll de la Creueta, at an elevation of 1,925 metres, marks the highest point of the route, making stage 4 the Queen Stage. Eventually the finish is uphill after the 1st category climb up to La Molina.

Stage 5 takes the riders through the foothills of the Pyrenees to Valls, while the 6th stage arrives at Port Aventura, the theme-park just outside of sunbathers-paradise Salou.

The final stage closes in Barcelona on circuit featuring Montjuïc, a two kilometres climb at 5.7%. Last year Lieuwe Westra took the closing stage.