This race starts with a slightly cobbled stage on day one, a flat one on day two and a double stage on day 3, a short sprint stage and a time trial. The overall winner will have to be able to ride a solid time trial without losing too much time the first days. Last year, Taylor Phinney was just the man to do that.
Plenty of cobblers here for stage 1 like Vanmarcke, Van Avermaet, Boonen, McDermott, etc. A long list actually. But when we look at those with a good time trial, it comes down to Phinney and Boom. Those guys made the podium last year, together with Sylvain Chavanel, who is not starting this year. Add Boasson Hagen as well, assuming he's not being used as domestique again.
For the flat stages, we look at Greipel and Kittel mostly, while the former might also be able to survive stage 1. With enough boni seconds, they may have a shot at the overall ranking as well. Other strong names include Sagan and Haussler, and of course Boonen and Boasson Hagen.
The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya is the final World Tour stage race of March this year. With a history that starts in 1911 it's surely one with a big past.
History
As mentioned, the first edition of the race was in 1911. This makes the Volta the oldest one week stage race of the WorldTour, and in fact the 4th oldest stage race that's still active. Only the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Belgium Tour are older. Back in 1911 Sebastia Masdeu won the first edition.
Unlike many other races the Volta was ridden between 1939 and 1945, since the Franco regime stayed neutral in the war. In 1914-1919 no race was ridden, as well as in 1921, 1922, 1937 and 1938, the last two years due to the civil war causing many victims.
The race was won by a Spanish 59 times, and the record winner is a Spaniard as well. The Basque Mariano Cañardo won in 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1935, 1936 and 1939, which adds up to a total of seven victories. Nobody has managed to get close to that. Miguel Indurain is the second place in the ranking with three overall victories.
Last year we also had a Spanish winner. Alberto Contador managed to take the win, with a stage win in the queen stage as well. There, he outsprinted Richie Porte to take victory, and held on to his lead until the end of the race.
The Route
The race does not start with an easy stage this year. In a stage starting and finishing in Calella the riders have to cover a serious amount of hills before a flat finish. If sprinters want to win they'll have to overcome all these hills.
Stage 2 seems more merciful to the riders. The course to Girona does not offer major difficulties to overcome, and should be a battle between the sprinters which are present here.
Stage 3 is when hell bursts loose. The race heads towards the north west of Catalunya, into the Pyrenees. First in the stage we find the cat.1 Alto de Coubet and the Alto de Creusa (HC) before an ascent to the skiing resort of La Molina, close to the French border.
After the ascent to La Molina in stage 3 the 4th stage is the queen stage this year. The start of the stage seems fairly easy. The climbs don't look extremely challenging, but then the final climb is very much the contrary. In the skiing resort that is Vallter 2000 the winner should be among the best climbers.
Stage 5 is a good recovery for the riders. In a relatively flat stage there's just one difficulty. The Alto de Lilla, very close to the finish, should eliminate any sprinter's chance and maybe even endanger a few GC positions.
There's not very much to say about stage 6, the penultimate stage. It's flat. Sprinters should enjoy it.
The final stage is not as flat as the previous one. Its main difficulty consists of the 8 (!) ascents of the Montjuic, near the Olympic Park of Barcelona. The final shifts in the GC can be made today, despite the shortness of the climb.
The Favourites
The climber-heavy race suits the, you guessed it, climbers. Last year's winner Alberto Contador (TCS) is here to defend his title. His main issue could be main rivalry, with Joaquím Rodríguez also aiming to win this race in his home region. In any case, Dani Moreno should be very helpful for a long time on the way to the top.
Not only Contador and Rodriguez will aim for a victory here. Alejandro Valverde (MOV) has ambitions to win this race. Samuel Sanchez may be aging, but could prove to be a perfect lieutenant for Valverde here.
Vincenzo Nibali (AST) can obviously not be counted out here. The Italian has his ambitions, but his manager forgot to bring very strong support here. Seeldraeyers will probably be his last helper on the climbs, but whether he can hang on in this field is highly doubtful.
Rigoberto Urán (SKY) is not here to ride in the tail of the pack. The Colombian climber should usually be able to count on strong support from the mountains machine that is Sky, but it's not highly impressive this time. Lopez and Dombrowski are the best available for Uran.
Roman Kreuziger (KAT) is the new leader for Katusha with Rodriguez's departure. He'll aim on a good result here as well, with Caruso as his main lieutenant. This squad is not exactly the most impressive squad Katusha could field, but a good result seems very much possible.
Apart from these riders, many many other climbers have made it to the start line this year. Leopold König (BMC), Thibaut Pinot (TFR), Andrew Talansky (GRS), Ryder Hesjedal (GIA), Jurgen van den Broeck (LTB) and Beñat Intxausti are most notable of them.
The Sprinters
Despite the mountains in the race several sprinters have made it as well. Although the big guns are of course absent, Carlo Calzone (MOV), Theo Bos (BEL), Barry Markus (AG2), Aidis Kruopis (OGE) and Sam Bennett (TCS) should provide some entertaining sprint finishes.
Great preview I don't expect an Top 10 for Llanet, but since he will lose time on the hills, I hope he can do something on a mountain stage Szmyd and Golas are two that can go for stage wins aswell ^^
This is obviously a very important race for us and Beñat's time to show why his name was at the very top of our shortlist before the season. A very strong startlist will complicate things though...
Hoping VDB can ride himself into the top-10 (though we have a top-5 medium goal) and Dehaes will show himself in the sprins. Also hoping for Albert and Mathias to do a great job
Top 5 goal is already out of the window but hopefully Leo can make a good start to his BMC career. And it's time for Season 2 of "Will Frank do anything at all?".
I wish I'd brought a sprinter now but we'll see. Maybe Dillier will own.
Manager of Bunzl - Centrica
ICL's World Tour Champions and Talented Bottlers
breakaway of Rebellin, Madrazo and César Veloso make it until the end and in that order the stage finishes, meaning that CCC finally get that stage win they've been wanting. Sinkeldam wins the peloton sprint ahead of Bennett and Arndt. Costa finishes 7th and wins the GC.
What a relief getting this win, I don't care that the points are low in this race, just so happy Also Rebellin shouldn't have been in our roster this year and takes his second stage win with me in charge ^^
Also I don't know how Sinkeldam can beat such better sprinters xD Now I can be happy for the rest of the season part
Yay correct FDJ team! Should be a great CI for us. Elissonde good shot for a good GC whilst Plusivte is perhaps favorite for the sprint, he has to show something big here.
Hello everyone to the first stage of this year's Criterium International. 72.5 flat kilometers awaits the peloton. It is likely the stage ends with a bunch sprint.
72 km to go
It is Gerard (Bretagne) who is the first rider to attack. He is followed by many riders though, so it remains to be seen if they stay away from the peloton, where CCC is chasing for Matteo Trentin. The breakaway is 50 seconds ahead.
50 km to go
Hardy (Cofidis) was part of the big break, and he is the first to get over the only climb of the day. Most of the other riders are caught by the peloton.
Hardy wins the intermediate sprint, in front of Proni and Gruzdev. This is also the break of the day, however CCC has started to chase again now. Their maximum lead was 2'30, which is now brought back down.
FDJ and Giant have put some riders on the front now to reel in the breakaway. The break got a lead of 1'30 now.
15 km to go
The same teams are still chasing and the gap has decreased to 40 seconds. The stage contenders are already at the front of the peloton.
10 km to go
The break is about to get caught with 10 kilometers to go. CCC, FDJ and Giant already have their sprint train on the rails.
5 km to go
FDJ has taken control of the peloton now, although De la Lumiere has lost contact with his train and is stuck behind a Movistar rider. CCC and Giant are still there, while other sprinters find a train to follow.
3 km to go
The three sprint trains go head-to-head towards the finish line. On the right is the CCC train (Puccio - Rutkiewicz - Trentin - Reza - Appollonio - Sanz). In the middle it is the Giant train (Kreder - Kreder - Van Poppel - Arndt). On the left is the FDJ train (Vichot - Bousche - De la Lumiere - Gatto).
2 km to go
Nothing has changed, although Giant takes a small lead. Movistar's Kusnezov has put himself behind Gatto, while Goos is trying to keep Mollema and Kelderman out of trouble.
1 km to go
Bousche is launching De la Lumiere, while Trentin has trouble following Rutkiewicz. Van Poppel is still there, but they have to do a great sprint to beat the FDJ men.
500 meter to go
It is going to be a close sprint. De la Lumiere does not go very fast and it looks like Van Poppel is going past him. Trentin is also still in with a chance to win, with Reza on his wheel.
200 meters to go
Van Poppel has a small lead over the Frenchman, but it is not over yet. The other riders are sprinting for the last podium spot, with Trentin in 3rd now.
Finish
And it is Danny van Poppel who puts his wheel over the line first. De la Lumiere finishes 2nd, while Trentin comes in third. To show it was an uphill sprint, Quintana and Mollema both finish inside the top 10.
I don't expect an Top 10 for Llanet, but since he will lose time on the hills, I hope he can do something on a mountain stage 
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
