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PREVIEW | Volta a Catalunya 2024 stage 1 - Can Tadej Pogacar outsprint the field in uphill sprint?
CyclingMonday, 18 March 2024 at 11:05
Stage 1 of the Volta a Catalunya ends in Sant Feliu de Guixols, a finale that is known for the rider that will feature an uphill sprint after a hilly day. Tadej Pogacar should have the legs to battle with the sprinters present in the race.
The seven-day race begins once again in Sant Feliu de Guíxols where some sprinters and puncheurs will fight for victory in the same uphill finish as the past two years - one unfortunately known for being the location of Sonny Colbrelli's heart failure, last year's a thrilling sprint between Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel. The stage features a few ascents early in the day where a strong breakaway can be formed.
Stage 1: Sant Feliu de Guíxols - Sant Feliu de Guíxols, 173.9 kilometers
With 20 kilometers summits a small climb that is 8 kilometers long at 4%. It is not a day for the sprinters as not only does this climb put some damage in the peloton, but the following descent and run-up to the finish is very fast, punchy and technical. Another small hilltop ends with 7.8 kilometers to go, and then most of the way into town is a very fast and twisty descent.
The final 750 meters then have a 5% gradient. It is not nothing, sprinters will certainly arrive here but this is an effort of over a minute that can be all-out from bottom to top. A sprint is almost certain but some riders will not have the legs, whilst some puncheurs and climbers may surprise because they will be better capable of putting in an actual sprint.
The Weather
Some nice temperatures and a breeze coming from the east. By all means, it shouldn't really affect the outcome of the day... If it does, maybe only in the final sprint where we'll have a slight tailwind.
The Favourites
Tadej Pogacar - This is traditionally a finale where sprinters rule, but last year it was a head-to-head sprint between Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel. The current generation of climbers can sprint extraordinarily well and Pogacar is no exception. Yes, he's just two days off Milano-Sanremo, but there he made the difference to everyone else in a 4% climb and that's essentially the same as this finale. More explosive, but Pogacar packs a sprint and it would not be a surprise if he enters the race already with a win.
The sprinters - However he will have tough competition. Sonny Colbrelli and Michael Matthews battled for victory here two years ago, but we maybe do not have the same names this time around. The likes of Bryan Coquard, Ethan Hayter, Iván García Cortina and Axel Laurance can definitely put up a challenge on a finale like this. Also count on the likes of Marijn van den Berg, Orluis Aular, Lars Boven, Pavel Bittner and Arne Marit to try and contest for what should be a sprint finish.
The problem for the rest of the competition is that no-one can outclimb Pogacar, and so even if they pack the same sprint, they will not be as fresh. The sprinters may still have a chance if they arrive fresh enough. Certainly then it will be a finale where a few of these riders can do well and maybe obtain a place in the podium. Maxim van Gils, Ide Schelling, Stephen Williams and William Lecerf Junior are riders who pack a strong sprint and certainly can do very well in a finale like this, perhaps Pogacar's main actions.
Other riders should be present there, trying to get bonifications or at least prevent being caught out in splits. The likes of Egan Bernal and Tobias Johannessen are interesting riders into the finale; whilst others such as Attila Valter, Ilan van Wilder, Sergio Higuita, Felix Engelhardt and Aurélien Paret-Peintre should also be outsiders.
Prediction Volta a Catalunya 2024 stage 1:
*** Tadej Pogacar, Bryan Coquard
** Maxim van Gils, Axel Laurance, Ivan García Cortina
* Ethan Hayter, Marijn van den Berg, Lars Boven, Ide Schelling, Michael Woods, William Lecerf Junior, Egan Bernal, Tobias Johhannessen, Sergio Higuita
Pick: Tadej Pogacar
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- And your point is what exactly?vappaxbipmv22-12-2024
- MVDP dominates this sport even more than Pogaçar dominates road racing. Also he can beat Tadej on the road quite regularly, the opposite is unlikely.Mistermaumau22-12-2024
- If you listen to team radios you'll hear each DS telling their riders to ride faster, fight their way to the front, and all occupy the same 8 places.Sweep22-12-2024
- You're talking about a sport where equipment and clothing is measured in grams.Sweep22-12-2024
- “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