The Cycling Tour of Catalonia continue from this Monday March 21 to Sunday 27 to the calendar of great spring cycling events. In a month with many important tests, the Volta will take the Catalan roads in its 101st edition starting in Sant Feliu de Guíxols and finishing in Barcelona.
It will be on a route that mainly tests climbers, on a route that has concentrated several key ascents and that will give few options to sprinters.
Stages, profiles and route of the Volta a Catalunya 2022
This is the route of the Volta a Catalunya 2022:
Stage 1: Sant Feliu de Guíxols – Sant Feliu de Guíxols (171.2 km). Monday, March 21
The Volta begins with a stage with three third category ports, Santa Pellaia, Alt de la Garriga and Romanyà. However, this third and last race is located just over twenty kilometers from the finish line, which may offer the opportunity to fight between a breakaway finish or a possible sprint finish.
Stage 1
Stage 2: L’Escala – Perpiñányà (202.5 km). Tuesday March 22
It will be a stage with three third category ports in the middle of the route. The last of them is located more than sixty kilometers from the finish line and once again the option of a breakaway or a sprint finish is open. On this day the wind will be important, which can blow on the straights of the final part of the race and wreak havoc on the peloton.
Stage 2
Stage 3: Perpinyà – La Molina (161.1 km). Wednesday March 23
It is one of the great stages of the week, with the Mont-Louis pass (peak at kilometer 80) and Collada de Toses (at 130). The latter will precede the descent that will lead to the main ascent to La Molina, one of the great uphill finishes of this edition. It will be a day for the favorites to position themselves in the general.
stage 3
Stage 4: La Seu d’Urgell – Boí Taüll (166.7 km). Thursday, March 24
It will be the queen stage. At the start, the cyclists will face Boixols and, about fifty kilometers from the finish line, the climb to Creu de Perves will begin. It will be shortly after kilometer 150 when the third first category climb of the day starts, Boí Taüll, the main hilltop finish of this edition of the Volta.
Stage 4
Stage 5: Pobla de Segur – Vilanova i la Geltrú (206.3 km). Friday, March 25th
It will be a less demanding stage a priori, but with a lot of kilometers for the cyclists. Descending profile throughout the day to return to sea level, with a port of third start, Comiols, in which the break of the day can be formed. Call at the end of the sprint.
Stage 5
Stage 6: Salou – Cambrils (167.6 km). Saturday, March 26th
A tough day with three ports on the route, with Coll de les Llebres in the first category at the start, Capafons in second shortly after and La Teixeta in second in the final part. Narrow roads and a demanding day that will present challenges for the peloton.
Stage 6
Stage 7: Barcelona – Barcelona (138.6 km). Sunday March 27
Final stage in which the challenge will come from kilometer 90, when the circuit will begin with six consecutive climbs to the Castell de Montjuïc. It is a short but explosive stage to finish defining the winner of the race.
Stage 7
Favorites of the Tour of Catalonia 2022
With an attractive route profile, many of the main stars of the peloton will meet on the Catalan roads throughout the week. Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo-Visma), Richard Carapaz (Ineos), Nairo Quintana (Arkea, champion in 2016), or Simon Yates (BikeExchallenge) o Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) are some of the stars present.
Of course, not the only ones. They will not miss either richie door (winner in 2015) and Michal Kwiatkowski (both from Ineos), Rigoberto Uran and Esteban Chaves (EF Education-Easy Post) o João Almeida (UAE). Who is not present is Adam Yates, reigning champion of the race.
The Spanish cyclists will also fight for a good result. The team Movistar attend the race led by Alexander Valverdechampion in 2009, 2017 and 2018. The Colombian will also be the leader of the telephone Ivan Ramiro Sosa. In addition to the Murcian, other Spanish references present are the podium in 2017 Mark Soler (UAE) o Jesus Herrada (Cofidis).
Other Spanish attractions of the race will be some of its young talents. It is the case of Carlos Rodriguezwith the Ineos team, and John Ayuso (UAE).