PREVIEW | Volta a Catalunya 2024 stage 7 - Montjuic circuit to decide overall classification; Tadej Pogacar main favourite on a day where breakaway usually wins

Stage 7 of the Volta a Catalunya features the traditional finale in Barcelona. Tadej Pogacar has the race sealed and won, but he can still take a fourth win in the very tough circuit around the Alto de Montjuic.

The final day, the traditional circuit in Barcelona. Regularly, a day for a breakaway, however many scenarios can decide such a day. There are only 145 kilometers to be ridden, as the riders leave Barcelona and face some rolling roads where the breakaway will be established.

The race is to be decided in the final circuit though. Six laps over the Alto de Montjuic, it’s a tough circuit, which usually benefits early attackers as there is almost no flat within it’s 8 kilometers. The descent off the Montjuic is very fast and allows riders to take a rest after every ascent.

Ascent which is 2.4 kilometers at 4.7%, however the gradient is very misleading as it includes a flat section. The true hilltop is quite explosive, it has 900 meters at 10% which is enough to create damage in the peloton, and also splits that may prove crucial for the overall classification. In the final lap, it will come only 5 kilometers away from the summit, all of them downhill except for a small uphill pitch next to the city’s Olympic stadium, 2 kilometers away from the finish.

The Weather

Some wind from the south but ultimately it will not really have an effect on the day, as the riders often change direction during the day and then in the final circuit it will not be meaningful.

Breakaway bingo or GC day?

Tadej Pogacar - Honestly it depends on what UAE want. If they control the day, keep the gap to around a minute into the final circuit, they can certainly keep the race under control until Pogacar attacks. He can drop the competition again and win stage number 4, but he really doesn't have to. However he and UAE have shown to have no real tactic today and just win on the basis of being the strongest; nothing truly prevents them from doing the same again.

Don't expect anyone else to match him, don't get your hopes up. In this terrain the likes of Mikel Landa, Aleksandr Vlasov and Egan Bernal who have shown some good results so far will be even less likely to be able to follow him. Landa is safe on the podium and Bernal would be thrilled to end there; so they defend. Vlasov, Enric Mas, Chris Harper and Lenny Martínez behind however are in an extremely tight battle for fourth place and certainly action will come from there. Antonio Tiberi and Wout Poels can also be in the mix for a strong result if the break does not capture glory on the day.

Traditionally this race ends with a day for the breakaway. The final circuit's descents are very technical, there are no flat roads and the climbs are tough so in-form riders can do damage early on and then hold gaps as it's hard to organize an efficient chase. That could happen here, expect riders to attack from early on in the circuit and try to be ahead of the competition. However if they will or not still fight for the stage win is a different question and largely depends on the actions of UAE.

Attila Vallter, Rémy Rochas, Axel Laurance, Sergio Higuita, Hugh Carthy, Guillaume Martin, Nicolas Prodhomme, Harold Tejada and Andreas Leknessund are all cards to play for in a scenario like this. Adding to that, I would say the entire remaining team of Israel - Premier Tech can also play the game here, specially Stephen Williams who should also be able to match the GC riders on these climbs; but also Michael Woods, Nick Schultz, George Bennett and Marco Frigo.

Prediction Volta a Catalunya 2024 stage 7:

*** Tadej Pogacar, Stephen Williams
** Guillaume Martin, Harold Tejada, Andreas Leknessund
* Mikel Landa, Egan Bernal, Antonio Tiberi, Attila Vallter, Rémy Rochas, Sergio Higuita, Hugh Carthy, Nicolas Prodhomme, Michael Woods

Pick: Tadej Pogacar