Volta a Catalunya 2016 Route stage 3: Girona

Volta a Catalunya 2016 Route stage 3: Girona – La Molina (Alp)

Wednesday, March 23, 2016 – At 172.1 kilometres, stage 3 in the 2016 Volta a Catalunya leads from Girona to La Molina. The 5.6 kilometres closing climb at 5.6% is on the menu twice, while underway the Coubet and the mega-long Toses are to be crested.

In last edition of the Volta a Catalunya Girona was both departure and arrival place in stage 3. Domenico Pozzovivo outsmarted a super front group featuring Contador, Porte, Aru, Uran, Talansky and Martin (Daniel). The Italian pocket climber escaped and soloed to victory in the last kilometres.

In stage 3 of the 2016 edition the riders head for La Molina, a ski resort in the Pyrenees which is becoming a regular host of the Volta a Catalunya in recent years. In 2014, Joaquim Rodriguez bested Alberto Contador by 5 seconds (eventually winning the GC with a 4 seconds lead over El Pistolero), while last edition saw Tejay van Garderen solo to an amazing victory.

En route to La Molina the first obstacle looms with around 60 kilometres done. Alt de Coubet is a 9.7 kilometres climb with a maximum grade at 10%. The average gradient is 5.5%.

Following a fast descent, the riders are welcomed by a long two-stage ascent up Alt de Toses. Peaking at an elevation of over 1,800 metres, this is a many-faceted climb. The first 7 kilometres come with 3% to 4% grades. Then a 4 kilometres section is flat to descending before the grades pick up a bit to 4 à 5%. Still nothing to worry about. It’s only in the last 4 kilometres the mountain shows its teeth with an average grade at 9% all the way up to the top. The closing kilometre is toughest at 10.1%, while the steepest stretches are 14%.

The finale of stage 3 in the 2016 Volta a Catalunya is a double climb up to La Molina, so that means twice the 5.6 kilometres climb at an average grade of 5.8%, while the steepest section credits 9%.

Race results/race report stage 3, Volta a Catalunya 2016.