The 1st stage of the Volta a Catalunya is an out-and-back race in Calella since 2012. Mostly running on hilly terrain, still the race often boils down to a sprint finish. Probably we’ll see a different scenario unfold in 2019. Stage 1 takes in five intermediate climbs, three of them 1st category.
The 2nd stage travels from Mataró to Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Three moderate climbs underway, so a sprint finish is a likely scenario.
Stage 3 is another thing altogether. The race runs from Sant Feliu de Guíxols to a high altitude finish in Vallter 2000. The final climb to the ski resort is 12 kilometres and the average gradient is 7.3%. Occasionally the inclination kicks up to 14%.
More high mountains in the 4th stage, as the Volta a Catalunya takes in its traditional summit finish in La Molina. The winner succeeds Alejandro Valverde (2018, 2017), Daniel Martin (2016), Tejay van Garderen (2015) and Joaquim Rodríguez (2014), so it is fair to say the ski resort is a regular host. The final haul up is 9 kilometres at 6% and when the riders move through La Molina the route continues with a short drop and a 2 kilometres climb to the line.
Stage 5 starts at an elevation of 1,120 metres in the Pyrenees and includes a huge climb straight after the start. A long descent then runs to an undulating second part of the race. The finish is in Cugat del Vallès, a suburb of Barcelona.
The 6th stage goes from Valls to another likely sprint finish in Vila-seca.
Traditionally the Volta a Catalunya concludes with a circuit race in Barcelona, that revolves around Alto de Montjuïc. Eight laps with two slopes – 2 kilometres at 5.7% and 700 metres at 6% – before the successor of Alejandro Valverde will be known.
The reigning World Champion also won the race in 2017 and 2009.
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Related articles Winners and records - Volta a Catalunya Formolo wins exciting final race, López takes GC - Volta a Catalunya 2019 Matthews bests Bauhaus in photo finish, López still leader - Volta a Catalunya 2019 Schachmann solos to victory, López retains lead - Volta a Catalunya 2019 New leader López wins in la Molina - Volta a Catalunya 2019 Adam Yates wins in Vallter 2000, De Gendt holds on to GC lead - Volta a Catalunya 2019 Power victory Matthews, De Gendt retains lead - Volta a Catalunya 2019 De Gendt wins 1st stage solo - Volta a Catalunya 2019 Route stage 1: Calella – Calella - Volta a Catalunya 2019 Route stage 2: Mataró – Sant Feliu de Guíxols - Volta a Catalunya 2019 Route stage 3: Sant Feliu de Guíxols – Vallter 2000 - Volta a Catalunya 2019 Route stage 4: Llanars (Vall de Camprodon) – La Molina - Volta a Catalunya 2019 Route stage 5: Puigcerdà – Sant Cugat del Vallès - Volta a Catalunya 2019 Route stage 6: Valls – Vila-seca - Volta a Catalunya 2019 Route stage 7: Barcelona – Barcelona - Volta a Catalunya 2019 More articles Tour of the Alps 2019: Geoghegan Hart outsprints Nibali, Sivakov still leader
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