Volta a Catalunya 2026 Route stage 5: La Seu d'Urgell - Coll de Pal

Friday, 27 March – Stage 5 of the Volta a Catalunya is a brutal race of attrition. The 155.3-kilometre mountain stage serves up 4,455 metres of climbing, culminating in the 18.9-kilometre long haul up the Coll de Pal. The finish climb averages 7%.

Published on 17 March 2026
Last updated on 27 March 2026: link to race results added

[Due to strong winds at the summit, the race ended up 2.2 kilometres lower on the final climb than originally planned]

We have to go back to 1979 for the last time the Volta a Catalunya visited the Coll de Pal. On that occasion, Ricardo Zuñiga soloed to victory. Who, you ask? Indeed, Zuñiga is not exactly the most well-known Spaniard in cycling history. Aside from his win in Catalonia, he only claimed one other victory, in the Vuelta a los Tres Cantos, a modest hilly race near Madrid.

His successor on the Coll de Pal is almost certain to ring a bell, as stage 5 is a truly gruelling affair and should favour one of the peloton’s top climbers. In the run-up to the final climb, four tough ascents are evenly spread across the route. After around 20 kilometres comes the Port Colldarnat, a 15.3-kilometre climb averaging 5%. The opening section is particularly photogenic, featuring nineteen hairpins in quick succession.

After cresting the Colldarnat, the riders descend to Sorribes and then follow a false flat uphill to the foot of the Coll de Josa. From there, the road rises for 4.7 kilometres at 5% to the summit.

Following a far from steep descent and a rolling section through the valley, the riders reach Vallcebre, where the Coll de Fumanya begins. This is a demanding climb of 6.7 kilometres at 7%, with ramps approaching 20%. Long ago, this area was teeming with dinosaurs, and around the summit thousands of footprints can still be seen in the rock faces.

The riders will have little time for that. They plunge downhill and after another false flat through the valley, the next climb begins in Guardiola de Berguedà. The Collada Sobirana serves up 7.1 kilometres at an average of 6.5%, with a steepest section of 15%. At the top, there are still 35.9 kilometres to go.

After the descent, the riders pass through Guardiola de Berguedà again, and a few kilometres further along the valley the final climb begins in Bagà. Surrounded by a stunning landscape, the Coll de Pal offers 18.9 kilometres of climbing at 7%.

The first three riders across the line gain 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds, while the intermediate sprints offer 3, 2 and 1 seconds.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 5th stage 2026 Volta a Catalunya.

Another interesting read: results 5th stage 2026 Volta a Catalunya.