Puigcerdà is located at an altitude of 1,200 metres in the Pyrenees and it has been 34 years since the Volta a Catalunya last visited the border town. Only a stone’s throw from France where Sean Kelly took the win in 1985.
No Puigcerdà finish in 2019 though. The Port de la Collada de Toses appears shortly after the start, which is a 20 kilometres long and steady ascent with shallow gradients to an altitude of 1,790 metres. The riders fly down to 600 metres before the Collet de San Agustí (4.1 kilometres at 4.1%) is the last uphill of the day. The peak is crested at kilometre 82 and the route continues on undulating terrain to a likely sprint finish in Sant Cugat del Vallès, an affluent town just north of Barcelona.
San Cugat hosted the start of last edition’s 3rd stage. The race went to Camprodon, where Thomas De Gendt soloed to victory and the leader’s jersey.
The first three riders on the line win time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while two intermediate sprints (at kilometre 88 and at kilometre 171) come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds each.
The race is expected to finish around 17:00 – local time.
Other interesting reads:
– live race report 5th stage
– GC after stage 4
Volta a Catalunya 2019 stage 5: route, profile, more
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