Although it’s the ninth consecutive time that the Volta a Catalunya starts with a race from Calella to Calella, the route is never the same. 2019’s opener was very mountainous, which inspired Thomas De Gendt to solo to victory. The 1st stage of this edition is less demanding, but still features three climbs.
The race serves an individual time trial on stage 2. The riders travel from Banyoles back to Banyoles on a rolling 18.5 kilometres route.
De GC battle intensifies further on the third day of action. Stage 3 kicks into gear near the Canal Olímpic Catalunya in Castelldefels to finish uphill in Vallter 2000. The climb to the ski station is 11 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 7.6%.
The 4th stage travels over two intermediate climbs from Ripoll to Port Ainé. The finish climb averages 6.8% across its length of 18.5 kilometres.
On stage 5 the riders travel from La Pobla de Segur to Manresa. On paper, this race should be appealing to attackers.
The Volta a Catalunya returns after 39 years to Mataró on the 6th stage. The last finish in the geographic centre of Catalonia dates back to 1982, when Dutchman Johan van der Velde took the spoils. A sprint finish is the most likely scenario in 2021.
The final stage ends with six runs on a hilly circuit in Barcelona. The lap is 7.8 kilometres long and takes in two short climbs on Montjuïc.
Volta a Catalunya 2021: route, profiles, more
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