PREVIEW | Volta a Catalunya 2024 - Tadej Pogacar ultimate favourite for debut; 3 mountain stages to test climbers to the limit

The Volta a Catalunya is scheduled from March 18th to 24th. This prestigious Spanish stage race annually attracts some of the world's top climbers, and this year's edition promises a spectacular route as usual.

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. Stage 4 into Lleida should be the only regular bunch sprint, whilst stage 5 has a flat finish but at the end of a hilly day into Viladecans.

Stage 2 finishes atop the Vallter 2000 climb which is 15 kilometers long at almost 7%, with a summit finish at 2147 meters of altitude. Stage 3 ends atop Port Ainé after two long ascents - the final climb is 18.4 kilometers long at 6.7% and sees it's return for the first time since 2021. Both can be crucial for GC, but a new stage comes into play.

Stage 6 has a summit finish at Queralt, which comes in a day with six categorized climbs including a special category halfway through the day. A new challenge that should seal the overall classification in what is a short day of racing. The race ends in the traditional explosive circuit in Barcelona which includes multiple laps of the Alto de Montjuic.

Tadej Pogacar - The Slovenian is making his debut in Catalunya and, just as he will at the Giro d'Italia, he is the ultimate favourite. No Evenepoel, Vingegaard or Roglic in sight - unlike last year, so the UAE Team Emirates rider is the big candidate to win the race overall. Additionally, most likely the favourite for all summit finishes, it's hard to imagine anyone being able to match him, and besides that UAE also have the presence of João Almeida, Marc Soler, Pavel Sivakov and Jay Vine who can on ideal conditions also perform alongside the best.

Visma - The Dutch team have a strong lineup, but one that misses it's big leader. Without Vingegaard it's hard to see the Dutch challenge Pogacar however nothing is impossible. Sepp Kuss has proven himself to be a superb climber and here he will be racing very close to home. Motivated, the pure climber will be exciting to watch and the team also have Cian Uijtdebroeks as an important card to play for the GC - with Attila Valter also a possibility.

Plenty strong climbers are present at this race, taking advantage of this terrain. Lenny Martínez is one, he has shown tremendous form recently and is another pure climber who will absolutely love these racing conditions. BORA - hansgrohe come with Sergio Higuita and Aleksandr Vlasov who recently beat top competition at Paris-Nice; INEOS Grenadiers have Egan Bernal and Geraint Thomas as two interesting options for the GC and Soudal - Quick-Step have Mikel Landa for the first time in a leading position, together with Ilan van Wilder who will also look to take the opportunity in the absence of Evenepoel. Simon Yates is another very important rider to take into consideration, a podium contender taking into consideration his performances of last year.

Movistar have Enric Mas, Einer Rubio and Nairo Quintana all present - an all-in in the race's mountainous stages. Add to this Tobias Johannessen, Louis Meintjes, Stephen Williams, Michael Woods, Hugh Carthy, Esteban Chaves, Guillaume Martin, Lorenzo Fortunato, Cristián Rodríguez, Damiano Caruso, Jack Haig, Wout Poels and Antonio Tiberi and we've got a very large fight for the places in the Top10.

The race does not feature many opportunities for the sprinters but some have made the trip over to Spain and will be looking to take an important World Tour triumph. Kaden Groves was the big dominant figure of last year and is back; he should be challenged by the likes of Ethan Hayter, Bryan Coquard, Marijn van den Berg and Orluis Aular - all riders who have capacity to climb well.

There are a few riders here to prepare for the classics as well as chase stage wins such as Dylan Teuns, Ivan García Cortina and Maxim van Gils for example.

*** Tadej Pogacar
** Sepp Kuss, Aleksandr Vlasov, Lenny Martínez
* João Almeida, Marc Soler, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Egan Bernal, Mikel Landa, Ilan van Wilder, Simon Yates, Enric Mas, Einer Rubio, Michael Woods

Pick: Tadej Pogacar