Berga was not included in La Volta since 1959. Back then, it served as the finishing venue to a mountain stage that was won Antonio Karmany. The Majorcan is a triple winner of the mountains classification of the Vuelta a España
The riders travel to a summit finish in the Sierra de Queralt, which is actually just a stone throw’s away. The race finishes near the Sanctuary of Queralt, on the westside of town, but the riders set out in easterly direction. The race is expected to be one of the key stages of La Volta, as it takes place on the penultimate day and takes in a substantial elevation gain.
Climbing commences on the Coll de la Batallola, a relatively easy opener of 11.8 kilometres with an average gradient of 3%. A short descent precedes an uphill section 6.6 kilometres at 3.3% before the Collet de Cal Ros is the second KOM test of the day. It’s 10 kilometres long and averaging 4.3%, although that statistic is biased by a downhill halfway.
The riders pass the midway marker of the race during a descent of approximately 25 kilometres. Back in the valley its time for the hardest ascent of the day. The Coll de Pradell adds up to 14.6 kilometres, while the average gradient sits at 7.1%. Which is not for the faint of heart to begin with, but the second half is even more intimidating as this section goes up at 9.3%. Luckily for some it’s not the finish, as there are still 60 kilometres left to race at the top.
The descent has an uphill section of 3.3 kilometres at 4.3% halfway and as soon as the riders are back down the next climb appears. The Collado de San Isidere is 4.9 kilometres long and averaging 8.8%. The riders plunge down to the Pantà de la Baells reservoir and continue back along the lake to Berga on rolling roads.
From Berga it’s 6 kilometres to the Queralt Sanctuary. It’s all uphill and the average gradient sits at 7.2%. The road ramps up to double digits at times, but it flattens out to 4% in the last few hundred metres.
The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprints come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX 6th stage 2024 Volta.
Another interesting read: results 6th stage 2024 Volta a Catalunya.
Volta a Catalunya 2024, stage 6: route, profile, more
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