Preview. The Volta a Catalunya has seen quite a lot of spectacle so far and a rivalry between Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic. The summit finish of stage 5 at Lo Port could very well be decisive for the outcome of the race.
Stage 5 of the Catalan race is a day with two specific phases. The 176-kilometers stage is almost completely flat, a relaxing and calm day through norteastern Spain, but it will all be in preparation for the final kilometers where the climbers will take hold of the race and the GC fight will explode.
Start and finish time Stage 5: 12:25 - 17:00CET
The climb to Lo Port will be a brutal one. Every time it's ridden the gaps are significant, as the gradients are very tight and there is no restbite. On the road it begins earlier with smoother gradients, but officially the climb is 8.6 kilometers long at 8.8%. The riders will already enter the climb's official start with some heat and possibly some burning in the legs.
What follows then is a climb few will enjoy. If the weather is good the view over the valley and Tortosa should be good, but otherwise the climb doesn't allow for the usage of the big ring, it's mostly a steep gradient grind. Riders have to be careful not to go into the red, there are two kilometers in the climb that average over 10% and the steep ramps go all the way into the line. It will be a meaningful test to manage your effort.
The Weather
Hot temperatures, in the 25 degrees, and some northwestern wind. It shouldn't affect the day much, and in the final climb the roads won't be exposed. It shouldn't affect it much.
The Favourites
Primoz Roglic - After winning stage 1, Roglic's task was simpler than what it is now. Just respond to attacks and follow wheels, then bet it all on your sprint. He starts stage 5 tied in time with Evenepoel. If he senses any weakness in the Belgian he must try and seize it, and if he can't match him the GC is surely lost - at least if nothing changes afterwards. Roglic starts in the lead but has a difficult task.
Remco Evenepoel - Because Evenepoel has, in my opinion, been the strongest rider in both summit finishes so far. At Vallter 2000 he led out Ciccone and Roglic essentially. At La Molina however, a climb where slipstreaming was more important, he ditched the competition and then outsprinted Roglic to the line. That was the show of power that I expected from him, if he has the same legs he'll virtually be unbeatable in this climb.
Giulio Ciccone - A wildcard. Starting the day in third play and with a stage win, I think Ciccone will actually be satisfied. He can play it defensively and focus on the fight for the podium instead of trying to match the other two. Not an easy task, but seeing how well he rode in Vallter 2000 he can surely succeed in that and perhaps even fight for the stage win.
João Almeida & Adam Yates - Two wildcards. Marc Soler could try to do something, but it's in Yates and Almeida that UAE's cards rely the most. Yates has no GC pressure, a breakaway could even be possible, but an early attack on the final climb wouldn't be followed by the GC guys and at his best (which he seemed to be close to despite his crash on the opening day) he can win here. Almeida was brilliant up Vallter 2000 after the mechanical but not as much the day after. His pacing style of racing would suggest he can do great things here however.
Mikel Landa - Landa is the purest of climbers out of the main favourites but things don't look too good for him. The new emergent generation (well, riders who reached the top after him) seems on a higher level and although he remains consistent and a brilliant climber, he is matched by some. It's a climb that suits him, he will be dangerous, but both stage win and final podium will be difficult to achieve if the competition keeps the same level as the previous days.
The long and gruelling climb will favour some. Jai Hindley, Esteban Chaves and Romain Bardet for example, all pure climbers. Chaves mainly could be quite threatening after what he's shown at Vallter 2000, and the gradients here will be better suited.
On the opposite side you have for example Michael Woods who's ridden quite well so far but may suffer in the more constant effort. Ben O'Connor, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Einer Rubio, Lenny Martinez, Rigoberto Urán and Lennert van Eetvelt all have given arguments that they can ride alongside the best, on a good day they can aim even higher.
In a case a breakaway could succeed the victory can only come from a strong climber, but that is possible. Some riders have shed time for one reason or another. Geoffrey Bouchard, Richard Carapaz, Maxim van Gils, Jack Haig, Wout Poels and Rein Taaramäe would be good options.
Prediction Volta a Catalunya 2023 stage 5:
*** Remco Evenepoel, Primoz Roglic
** João Almeida, Giulio Ciccone, Mikel Landa, Esteban Chaves
* Jai Hindley, Romain Bardet, Ben O'Connor, Michael Woods, Rigoberto Urán
Pick: Remco Evenepoel
🦘@kaden_groves de l'@AlpecinDCK s'imposa a 🐓@bryancoquard a l'esprint de @Aj_Sabadell 🦘@kaden_groves del @AlpecinDCK se impone a 🐓@bryancoquard al sprint de @Aj_Sabadell 🦘@kaden_groves / @AlpecinDCK beats 🐓@bryancoquard at Sabadell #VoltaCatalunya102
