Volta a Catalunya 2026 stage 1 preview, profiles, favourites & predictions - Vingegaard, Pidcock and Evenepoel fight for win on explosive hilly finish

The 2026 Volta a Catalunya takes place from the 23rd to the 29th of March. The Catalan race has been widely regarded as the most important mountain test throughout the spring and is one of the most difficult races outside of the Grand Tours, which often sees many of the best climbers in the world go head-to-head in the Pyrenees. We preview stage 1, which is expected to start and finish at 13:00 and 17:00 CET.

The race was first held in 1911, won by Sebastián Masdeu at the time. The race stopped during World War 1 but not during World War 2, remaining one of the top races in the calendar throughout those years. It is not only an event that holds great importance currently, as in the past, but none other than Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx also won it on consecutive occasions. The race's winner list is no joke, featuring the likes of Felice Gimondi, Bernard Thévenet, Freddy Maertens, Francesco Moser, Sean Kelly, Robert Millar, Miguel Induráin and Fernando Escartin still in the 20th century.

This century, the race has become part of the then-created World Tour and has been won by Spain's golden generation with Alberto Contador (later removed), Alejandro Valverde and Joaquím Rodríguez all in the winner list; Nairo Quintana, Richie Porte and most recently two Slovenians have won the race. In 2024, Tadej Pogacar took the title, and in 2025, Primoz Roglic did it for the second time in his career.

The race begins, as usual, in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, on the Mediterranean coast. It is a day where the sprinters, classics riders and GC specialists can all fight for the stage win, whilst the overall classification is always at play in the treacherous finale.

At first glance, the stage does not seem too difficult, with a few climbs in the first two-thirds; however, nothing excessive. The riders arrive at the key part of the stage relatively fresh; it is the final 23 kilometers that really create damage.

That is because the riders take on a road which is famously a non-stop twist-and-turn, with several small climbs and technical descents. These are roads where positioning is absolutely key, and so there will constantly be a very high pace over terrain where the peloton will inevitably be stretched and with several climbs to tackle.

Whilst attacks aren't likely to succeed here, there is a very technical descent all the way into the final kilometer where last year Tibor del Grosso almost took a breakthrough win on the road. The final. The final 600 meters then average 5%, a sprint that is by no means easy and can in itself be a massive barrier for the sprinters.

Although it does not look like it much on paper, this is a GC day. Positioning is an absolute priority for all GC teams, and they all have to battle not to lose time in a stage that, in comparison to the three mountain days, has nothing to do. But time can be lost in a finale that is so explosive and technical, whilst the uphill sprint means splits are likely.

Hence, don't make exceptions regarding which GC men will be up there; they all will be. But a few can also fight for the stage win, and will be the main favourites even. In 2023, Remco Evenepoel was second here but showed that with good legs, he is a clear favourite. He and Tom Pidcock are two riders who pack a very strong sprint and are absolutely big contenders to win here.

But even amongst the climbers, there are so many who sprint very well. If INEOS can't rely on Dorian Godon, Oscar Onley can without a doubt pull it off; Lidl-Trek have both Giulio Ciccone and Mattias Skjelmose to play; David Gaudu performs only a few days a year, but at the Vuelta last year he beat none other than Jonas Vingegaard and Mads Pedersen in a hilly sprint...

There is Lenny Martínez, in incredible form and very explosive, fresh off just having beaten Jonas Vingegaard in the final sprint at Paris-Nice (as well as Santiago Buitrago, who can do quite well as well). And of course, Vingegaard himself, who will be aiming for bonus seconds and not losing time on his rivals.

When it comes to the sprinters, there are a few options. INEOS Grenadiers is the most obvious cause with Dorian Godon, fresh off a Paris-Nice win; the team has to manage that with the fact that they have to protect Oscar Onley and Carlos Rodríguez as well.

There is Magnus Cort Nielsen who can do something if he has the form, however I don't think that is much the case; whilst Henok Mulubrhan is also a specialist in this kind of explosive finale and could surprise.

I think it's in NSN where the wildcards are, the only actual sprinter team that will aim for a result here. Ethan Vernon can certainly hunt the stage win if he is able to arrive at the final climb in position, but that is a very difficult task. However, he and Brady Gilmore are both well adapted to such a finale, and there is a chance that the sprinter may still win it.

*** Remco Evenepoel, Tom Pidcock
** Dorian Godon, Ethan Vernon, Giulio Ciccone, Lenny Martínez
* Jonas Vingegaard, Mattias Skjelmose, Oscar Onley, David Gaudu, Magnus Cort NIelsen, Henok Mulubrhan, Brady Gilmore

Pick: Tom Pidcock

How: Reduced bunch sprint.