[ad_1]
First held in 1911, the distinguished Volta a Catalunya is the fourth oldest stage race on the calendar, even pre-dating the Vuelta a España. It slots between Milan-San Remo and Gent-Wevelgem for seven levels of usually mountainous terrain round Catalonia earlier than the end in Barcelona.
The 2023 Volta a Catalunya was gained by Primož Roglič forward of Remco Evenepoel and João Almeida. Roglič led from begin to end and likewise gained two levels and the factors jersey, whereas Evenepoel took two levels in addition to the mountains and younger riders’ jerseys.
It’s usually used as a warm-up race for riders going to the Giro d’Italia and this yr appears to be no totally different with Tadej Pogačar and Geraint Thomas set to line-up initially in Sant Feliu de Guíxols alongside Sepp Kuss, Simon Yates, Tao Geoghegan Hart and extra.
Volta a Catalunya 2024: Key data
- Date: 18th-Twenty fourth March 2024
- Begin: Sant Feliu de Guíxols
- End: Barcelona
- Levels: Seven
- UK TV protection: Eurosport, Discovery+
Volta a Catalunya 2024: The route
Catalonia is concurrently one of many world’s hottest biking locations and an underrated race location. The 2024 Volta as soon as once more begins on the coast at Sant Feliu de Guíxols, simply 30km from the biking mecca of Girona, and the peloton will absorb 4 climbs round that space earlier than returning to complete.
Levels 1 and a pair of are nearly an identical to the 2023 route, so the second day takes the race to the Pyrenees for a summit end on Vallter 2000 earlier than Stage 3 actually rips the GC aside with three large climbs, ending up Port Ainé.
There’s one climb proper in the midst of Stage 4 earlier than a flat end in Lleida earlier than a medium mountain day awaits on Stage 5. The penultimate stage is brutal, with 5 large climbs together with the HC Coll de Pradell and a summit end at Queralt.
Stage 7 is a hilly one to doubtlessly (in all probability not with Pogačar current) preserve issues attention-grabbing proper to the end in Barcelona with the identical ending circuit cresting the climb to Montjuïc fortress.
Volta a Catanlunya 2024 stage-by-stage preview
Stage 1: Monday 18th March, Sant Feliu de Guíxols – Sant Feliu de Guíxols, 174km
There’s a purpose why the Volta a Catalunya is at all times probably the most entertaining week-long stage races. It’s onerous from the very begin and there’s an uphill end.
Stage 2: Tuesday nineteenth March, Mataró – Setcases, 186.5km
Stage 2 is sort of a relaxation because it head by Girona and Banyoles earlier than hitting the mountains with the Coll de Coubet earlier than ending on Vallter 2000.
Stage 3: Wednesday twentieth March, Sant Joan Abadesses – Port Ainé, 176.5km
The peloton then heads west by the Pyrenees through three huge climbs and one other summit end.
Stage 4: Thursday twenty first March, Kind – Lleida, 169km
Why would a sprinter need to go to this race? They’ve obtained to outlive the Port d’Ager to maintain the bunch collectively for the end.
Stage 5: Friday twenty second March, Altafulla – Viladecans, 167.5km
This one appears sure to be a breakaway win, except one of many favourites (stated as if there was a couple of) fancies attacking off the descent of the ultimate climb.
Stage 6: Saturday twenty third March, Berga – Queralt, 154.5km
Simply while you suppose a break is coming, Stage 6 packs in 5 climbs, together with a Class 1 summit end.
Stage 7: Sunday Twenty fourth March, Barcelona – Barcelona, 145.5km
Alt del Castell de Montjuïc, aka the climb as much as Montjuïc Citadel in Barcelona, is just 2km with a mean gradient of 4.8% however the six ascents will little doubt act as springboards for assaults for groups to get one remaining win from the race. Or for Tadej Pogačar to get stage win quantity 5.
Volta a Catalunya 2024: Find out how to watch
Milan-San Remo is being proven on Eurosport and Discovery+ within the UK.
Elsewhere in Europe, Eurosport will present reside photographs to 54 territories, with viewers in Denmark and Norway accessible to observe on TV2. It’s on RTVE in Spain and TVC in Catalonia.
Worldwide protection extends to Eurosport Asia, Claro Sports activities in a number of Latin American territories, Supersport in Africa, SSC within the Center East and North Africa, Caracol in Colombia, SBS in Australia, JSports in Japan, FloBikes in Canada and america, and Sky Sport in New Zealand.
If it’s not being proven in your nation, you might be able to watch protection utilizing a VPN – Digital Non-public Community – which permits customers to masks their IP deal with and watch geo-blocked content material, supplied they don’t have to pay for a subscription. That is additionally useful for watching paid-for protection whereas travelling overseas in nations with out entry.
One such instance is ExpressVPN, which may be very well reviewed, has particular recommendation for watching biking and prices £5.36 per 30 days with three months free.
Different choices embody NordVPN, Surfshark and Kapersky.
Volta a Catalunya 2024: TV instances
Stage 1
Eurosport 2: 14:00-15:45
Discovery+: 14:00-16:00
Stage 2
Eurosport 2: 14:00-15:45
Discovery+: 14:00-16:00
Stage 3
Eurosport 2: 14:00-15:45
Discovery+: 14:00-16:00
Stage 4
Eurosport 2: 14:00-15:45
Discovery+: 14:00-16:00
Stage 5
Eurosport 2: 14:00-15:45
Discovery+: 14:00-16:00
Stage 6
Eurosport 2: 14:00-15:45
Discovery+: 14:00-16:00
Stage 7
Eurosport 2: 14:00-15:45
Discovery+: 14:00-16:00
All instances GMT and topic to alter by broadcasters.
Volta a Catalunya 2024 begin record
Volta a Catalunya: Earlier winners
2023: Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma)
2022: Sergio Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe)
2021: Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers)
2020: No race
2019: Miguel Ángel López (Astana)
2018: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
2017: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
2016: Nairo Quintana (Movistar)
2015: Richie Porte (Group Sky)
2014: Joaquim Rodríguez (Group Katusha)
2013: Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp)
2012: Michael Albasini (GreenEDGE)
2011: Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD)
2010: Joaquim Rodríguez (Group Katusha)
First winner: Sebastià Masdeu (1911)
Most wins: Mariano Cañardo (7)
Wins per nation: Spain (60), France (11), Italy (10), Colombia (5), Belgium (3), Eire (3), Switzerland (2), United Kingdom (2), Australia (1), Luxembourg (1), Netherlands (1), Russia (1), Ukraine (1).
[ad_2]