Volta a Catalunya 2018 Route stage 6: La Pobla de Segur

Volta a Catalunya 2018 Route stage 6: La Pobla de Segur - Torrefarrera

Saturday, 24 March 2018 - At 117 kilometres, Volta a Catalunya's 6th stage runs from La Pobla de Segur to Torrefarrera. The race takes in one intermediate climb before the last 42 kilometres are played out on flat to rolling roads. It's a shortened route.

The route has been shortened due to heavy snow in the Aran Valley. The race starts in La Pobla de Segur, which originally was a passage after 75 kilometres. The 6th stage now amounts to 117 kilometres and takes in just one climb.

The first intermediate sprint is canceled, the second is at kilometre 74. Time bonuses on the line are 10, 6 and 4 seconds, and underway 3, 2 and 1 seconds.

Underneath you’ll find the original route.

It’s been 25 years since the Volta a Catalunya last visited the Aran Valley and this year the semi-autonomous community nestled among the Pyrenees returns with a bang. Yesterday’s 5th stage finished in the valley that hugs the French border, while today’s penultimate stage starts here. The riders clip intro their pedals in Vielha e Mijaran, the small capital with 4,000 inhabitants, before setting off to Torrefarrera, which is a pro-cycling virgin – no major race ever visited the place just north of Lleida.

The race sets off in Vielha e Mijaran only to follow the same road as yesterday, but in opposite direction. Firstly, a 13 kilometres climb and through the Tunnel de Vielha the riders drop down to leave the Val d’Aran. The second ascent of the day is also familiar, although it was a descent earlier. Now it’s a 7.9 kilometres climb at 4.6%.

A long drop takes the riders down to La Pobla de Segur and it’s only here, with 75 kilometres done, that the riders leave the route of the 5th stage. Instead, they head further south, first along the Sant Antoni Reservoir and then by passing the Terradets Reservoir before turning right in La Baronia de Sant Oïsme and tackling the third ascent of the day. This is a 10.2 kilometres climb at 4.3%.

Still 60 kilometres to go at the top. The first 18 kilometres are on descent before the last 42 kilometres of the stage run of flat to rolling roads to the line in Torrefarrera.