PREVIEW | Volta a Catalunya 2023 stage 6 - Hilly day sees GC fight, sprint and breakaway all as possibilities

Preview. Primoz Roglic has punched back as he won the queen stage of the Volta a Catalunya, beating Remco Evenepoel. Now, on the eve of the explosive stage in Barcelona, stage 6 may provide another opportunity for the sprinters.

Stage six will be another tricky day, with a lot of rolling roads which may lead to a sprint or a breakaway win. A late attack aswell isn't to be ignored, as the roads into Molins de Rei feature quite a few of small but explosive ascents. There will be 2500 meters of climbing, it's quite a tricky day, with the first two thirds of the day featuring tons of small ascents and a distinct lack of pan-flat roads.

Start and finish time Stage 6: 12:45 - 17:00CET

With 27.5 kilometers to go ends the ascent of the Alt de la Creu d'Aragall which is 5.6 kilometers to go with 6.1%. The descent includes a couple of hilltops and last-minute route changes have seen the main climb of the day excluded. This has made for an easier day and a GC fight is more unlikely, whilst the sprinters will then have better chances of succeeding. Nevertheless, attacks can be quite dangerous.

From there on there is a quick descent and the final kilometers and flat into Molins de Rei. There shouldn't be any meaningful leadouts, but if there is something there will be a tense finale, with several roundabouts inside the final 3 kilometers. The final corner is then with 1.5 kilometers, the final straight will make it difficult for lone riders to succeed.

The Weather

Strong wind from the south. It'll make things tricky, it can be quite a tense day with a lot of crosswinds early in the day, and then more crosswinds back into Molins de Rei.

The Favourites

Kaden Groves - Winner of stage 4, Groves has got his groove back. At his best a day like this should not be hard for him to survive, and in a flat sprint he is most likely going to be the fastest once again. Alpecin have reasons to fully commit to a chase.

Bryan Coquard - Coquard did everything right in the previous sprint, but was beaten by Groves. Cofidis will look to control the race once again, Coquard can climb and he will with no doubt be hoping for better luck this time around to get an important win.

Corbin Strong - Corbin Strong has been looking good. Israel nailed the leadout in the only bunch sprint so far and he's shown the speed. Like Coquard he should comfortably handle the climb, perhaps even better. Israel will be the third team that should do everything they can to control the breakaway.

Other sprinters may be within a shot. Jon Aberasturi and Clément Venturini if it is a regular bunch sprint, if the climbs are also felt then Ethan Hayter, Ide Schelling and Milan Menten could have better chances.

The strong wind and hilly profile also make it a good day for a breakaway. The removal of the main climb of the day absolutely harms their chances, but the peloton is filled with riders who are capable of making big moves in this type of terrain.

Rune Herregodts, Bruno Armirail, Will Barta, Dorian Godon, Alessandro De Marchi, Andrey Amador, Jonas Gregaard and Victor Langellotti will be riders to pay attention to on this day. Again it takes experience, some climbing legs and good rouleur abilities to rhive in a day like this.

Prediction Volta a Catalunya 2023 stage 6:

*** Kaden Groves, Bryan Coquard
** Corbin Strong, Ethan Hayter
* Jon Aberasturi, Ide Schelling, Clément Venturini, Milan Menten

Pick: Kaden Groves