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PREVIEW | Volta a Catalunya 2024 stage 5 - Hilly day possibly the best opportunity for a breakaway to succeed
CyclingFriday, 22 March 2024 at 10:30
We preview stage 5 of this year's Volta a Catalunya, a day in the hills which can be suited to many different riders, ending in Viladecans where Tadej Pogacar can expect a relatively relaxed day on the bike.
The 167-kilometer stage is hilly and will be a day that suits breakaways quite well. Catalunya is known for the roads that suit this type of racing, and plenty riders can succeed from a day like this. A sprint could also decide the day, but it is complicated. This is because the opening hour of racing will be quite explosive and rolling.
Stage 5: Altafulla - Viladecans, 167.3 kilometers
A climb of 7.5 kilometers at over 4% will be in the first half of the day, with a few rolling roads and descent following. This will all be before the final combination of climbs which could decide the day. A small hilltop will come before the Alt de la Creu d'Aragall. The climb is 6.5 kilometers at 6% and summits with 29 kilometers to go. It is close enough that it can decide the day, as an equally long descent follows.
The final 15 kilometers then will be pan-flat, and a sprint could happen at the end of these. Into Viladecans the roads will be suited to a chase, and then over the final kilometers there will be a few small obstacles that can stretch out the peloton. Ultimately, the final kilometer is straightforward - although the riders go through a slight roundabout with around 300 meters to go - and should be a regular finale.
The Weather
Map Volta a Catalunya 2024 stage 5
A nice breeze from the south, nothing too important, more of a fresh breath of air coming from the season. Racing wise we could see a slight headwind heading into Viladecans which may not favour attackers in that final climb. A more bunched up finale - both in peloton or breakaway - could perhaps be expected.
The Favourites
A tricky day that is rather good for a breakaway to win. A hilly start, warm weather, rolling roads and two major climbs which do not please the sprinters too much. Although on this particular race a few fast men may want their teams controlling the break, a lot of quality riders will want to find themselves in the front of the race and make lives complicated. Specially, we've got teams with many numbers who will certainly go all-out at the start of the day to try and make sure they've got a numerical advantage into the decisive moments of the stage. Israel - Premier Tech is a good example with stage 1 winner Nick Schultz, Stephen Williams, Dylan Teuns and Michael Woods.
Lidl-Trek have Bauke Mollema and Patrick Konrad, Team Jayco AlUla have Simon Yates and Felix Engelhardt and Uno-X Mobility have Tobias Johannessen and Andreas Leknessund. Most of these riders will want to make the difference in the final climb. This is not one that's brutal however and so an interesting mix can be present. Exceptions would be riders like Attila Valter, Wiliam Lecerf Junior, Frederik Wandahl and Andreas Kron.
Consider also quality climbers and puncheurs such as Rémy Rochas, Damiano Caruso, Guillaume Martin, Louis Barré and Harold Tejada who may want to take advantage of this rather unique opportunity.
A sprint could still take place. This is an unlikely scenario, but several of the fast men present here in the race can climb quite well. Bryan Coquard, Marijn van den Berg, Iván García Cortina and Ethan Hayter are all fast finishers with a strong climbing record. More than that, their ability and their climber-filled teams could help control a breakaway. UAE Team Emirates have done so and pushed hard on the opening day they could maybe do so again for Tadej Pogacar even if the tactic is not so logic long-term wise (but honestly, they have free reign to do whatever they want at this point in the race).
Ide Schelling, Axel Laurance, Dorian Godon and Orluis Aular are all riders who can also do quite well in a sprint, I argue the first three also have enough climbing legs to battle it out for the win in a breakaway.
Prediction Volta a Catalunya 2024 stage 5:
*** Stephen Williams, Attila Valter
** Dorian Godon, Harold Tejada, Nick Schultz
* Tadej Pogacar, Marijn van den Berg, Ide Schelling, William Lecerf Junior, Rémy Rochas, Felix Engelhardt, Andreas Leknessund, Michael Woods, Axel Laurance
Pick: Stephen Williams
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