🔥 Una #VoltaCatalunya102 de luxe! Esteu a punt?🤩 🔥 ¿Estáis listos? 🔥 Are you ready? 💥
PREVIEW | Volta a Catalunya 2023 stage 1 - Bryan Coquard and Ethan Hayter main favourites for opening sprint stage
CyclingMonday, 20 March 2023 at 09:55
Preview. Stage 1 of the Volta a Catalunya will put the sprinters to the test, as they find an explosive finish where many riders' legs will be tested.
Stage one to Sant Feliu de Guíxols will be a loop, with the coastal town receiving the start of the Catalan event. It is a tricky day, one that is designed for the sprinters, however those who are able to climb as it is by far a flat affair. The 164 kilometers will have some small difficulties and a treacherous uphill drag to the line. There will be four categorized climbs in the day.
Start and finish time Stage 1: 13:05 - 17:00CET
Stage 1: Sant Feliu de Guíxols – Sant Feliu de Guíxols, 164.5 kilometers
The final one of those will summit with 25 kilometers to go. The ascent is 4.6 kilometers long at 5.6%, not a brutal one but it will cause some damage in the pure sprinters. If that isn't enough however the final kilometers will. They are very rolling, technical and the pace should be furious as it will be hard to position.
There will be a small descent leading into the final 2 kilometers where the peloton will be stretched. The pace into it will be very high. Then they go up to Sant Feliu de Guíxols, a slight hilltop finish as the final avenue goes up with gradients of 5%. The ramp is over 500 meters long, it will make a difference to the stage's decision.
Stage 1 Finale
The Weather
Map Volta a Catalunya 2023 stage 1
Slight northeastern breeze on the day. Should not affect it much, could possible make for a tailwind finish.
Read also
The Favourites
Bryan Coquard - Winner of a slight hilltop finish at the Tour Down Under, it is safe to say this is a perfect finale for Coquard. A hilly day but winning here would also mean leading a World Tour race, an important achievement for a rider who has worked so hard throughout his career. Cofidis have a modest team but it's not like there will be luxurious rival leadouts.
Ethan Hayter - At his best Ethan Hayter can ride just about every terrain. This year he hasn't yet shown his best level, not even close. INEOS Grenadiers will be supporting him as a leader on this day and the uphill drag to the line will be good form him, but he will need a perfect day to make it work.
As I've said the field of sprinters isn't exactly luxurious. Kaden Groves should be the main favourite but he hasn't looked too sharp yet this year. Jon Aberasturi and Clément Venturini will also have important opportunities here.
In the field of the puncheurs who carry a strong sprint, or riders who are half sprint half puncheurs, you also have the likes of Hugo Hofstetter, Milan Menten, Andreas Kron and Corbin Strong who will all have their eyes open for this finale.
The finale will be tricky. The lack of true big sprinters here can influence the GC riders into trying to go for bonifications, as most will need to be close to the front in order to prevent getting caught out in splits. Such a finale could see a surprise, on his best day Primoz Roglic could be in contention for the stage win. Remco Evenepoel and Giulio Ciccone will also be interesting riders to keep an eye out on the day.
Prediction Volta a Catalunya 2023 stage 1:
*** Bryan Coquard, Ethan Hayter
** Kaden Groves, Milan Menten, Corbin Strong
* Primoz Roglic, Hugo Hofstetter, Jon Aberaturi, Andreas Kron, Clément Venturini
Pick: Bryan Coquard
claps 3visitors 792
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- “During a TT, I am basically blind”. That was his quote after crashing into the barriers in a TT. The problem isn’t the UCI, radios or air bags. The problem is the riders and their teams.JoeyB22-12-2024
- I think you overestimate scientific knowledge and for sure the spreading of it. There are huge numbers of people in similar situations, if there were an easy solution somebody would be making big money out of it. Nerve pain can have many complex origins or be due to complex combinations of reasons. Even if you discover a reason there is not always a solution. Migraines haven’t been solved either. I have had lower back/hip nerve pains on and off for over 30 years, no kind of doctor has ever found a way to reduce, prevent or solve the problem. It may just be that some people are born with nerves that are too short or get twisted out of position during certain movements.Mistermaumau22-12-2024
- Amazing ride by her and very promising for her future. On a side note, it’s a bit worrying all these wins riders have after emotional moments in their lives, someone will come up with emotional doping at some point. Maybe give them fake news just before a big race to get hormones pumping.Mistermaumau22-12-2024
- I doubt he will have the energy to do that if he continues to do leadout for Phillipsenabstractengineer22-12-2024
- I know several people who’ve tried contacting sport airbag manufacturers and none of them ever got a reply. Might be hard to organise anything with such attitudes.Mistermaumau22-12-2024
- It's the BBC. Who cares outside of little Britain.leodis22-12-2024
- Crawl back under your stone.leodis22-12-2024
- Thanks Dadmobk22-12-2024
- Hard to believe with the advancment of modern medicine he can not find a cause for this.frieders321-12-2024
- You continue to platform these two cheats. With that in mind I can no longer use your site. I know my leaving means little, but, sometimes you have to take a stand. See ya!DJ21-12-2024