The Tour of Catalonia started last year with a sprint victory from Michael Matthews, but that opening stage was overshadowed by the collapse of Sonny Colbrelli just after the finish.
The Italian was resuscitated after what turned out to be his last day of competition.
The Australians piled up the victories in the first days, after which a musical chair dance in the leader’s jersey ensued.
Ben O’Connor, Nairo Quintana and Joao Almeida were given a taste, Sergio Higuita struck on the penultimate day after a marathon flight with Richard Carapaz.
The Ecuadorian won that Saturday stage, Higuita grabbed the leader’s jersey and did not relinquish pole position in Barcelona.
For those looking for altimeters, Catalonia is the promised land.
The first stage has a hilly character, the first uphill finish awaits on Tuesday at ski station Valtter 2000 at an altitude of 2,135 metres.
On day 3, the roof is not that high, but La Molina (arrival uphill at 1,680 above sea level) is not for the faint of heart either.
After a relative breather on Thursday, it’s all hands on deck on Friday on the very steep Lo Port: “only” 980 meters high, but with an average of 9 percent and peaks of up to 20 percent, it’s a rotten thing.
After 3 uphill finishes, the terrain is a bit softer on Saturday and the Catalan cycling week ends with the traditional round in Montjuïc.
After a few weeks on Tenerife, Remco Evenepoel returns to the mainland for his final round exam for the Giro. He is surrounded by the team that will (normally) also assist him in Italy.
Primoz Roglic should have started his season here normally, but that has already happened in Tirreno-Adriatico. Successfully, to put it mildly. The Giro leader is supported by Sepp Kuss and Tobias Foss, among others.
Ineos lays his pink beans on Geraint Thomas. Egan Bernal also rejoins after a raceless period and GC violence we also get thanks to Mikel Landa, Gino Mäder, Jack Haig, Ben O’Connor, Richard Carapaz, Rigoberto Uran, Romain Bardet, Giulio Ciccone, João Almeida, Adam Yates, Lenny Martinez and Michael Woods.
The Belgian flag is also flying by Cian Uijtdebroeks, Rune Herregodts, Ilan Van Wilder, Lennert Van Eetvelt, Maxim Van Gils and Dylan Teuns, among others.
We follow every stage from start to finish with text updates.
