Twelve months ago, a double act topped the bill at the Volta a Catalunya, as Primož Roglič and Remco Evenepoel jousted across the race’s seven days. This time out, there is but one marquee name, as Tadej Pogačar lines up for his first stage race of 2024.
The Slovenian had dominated attention in the build-up, and he is the clear favourite for overall victory in Barcelona next Sunday, but the narrative of the week ahead promises to be a multi-layered one. The Volta a Catalunya, a race older than the Vuelta a España itself, has always provided intrigue, and in the WorldTour era, it has established itself as one of the races of the year.
For some, the week in Catalonia is a crucial work-out ahead of the Giro d’Italia in May. Others are looking further ahead, to the Tour de France in July. But everybody is looking for assurances in the here and now. Ahead of the start on Monday, we look at some of the key storylines to follow this week.
Pogačar’s lone pre-Giro tune-up
The race programme may be different this year, but the level of dominance looks the same as it ever was. After soaring to Strade Bianche and leaving his mark on Milan-San Remo, Tadej Pogačar switches into stage racing mode for the one and only time this side of the Giro d’Italia when he lines up in Catalonia.
Pogačar has never raced the Volta a Catalunya before, but that’s unlikely to prove a handicap for a rider who finds friendly terrain at just about every race on the calendar. The summit finishes at Vallter 2000 (stage 2), Port Ainé (stage 3) and Queralt (stage 6) should all be to his liking, while the rugged final stage around Montjuic looks like the kind of day that would tempt Pogačar onto the offensive.
The Slovenian won’t lack for opportunities here to run through his climbing repertoire before the Giro, in other words. He’ll be joined in the UAE Team Emirates line-up by a pair of key men from his Giro challenge in Jay Vine and Felix Grossschartner, while Tour men Pavel Sivakov and João Almeida will also be by his side.
Despite a field of considerable depth, Pogačar is the overwhelming favourite for overall victory, not least because the rest of the so-called ‘Big Four’ – Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglič and Remco Evenepoel – are at home this week preparing for their projected rendezvous at Itzulia Basque Country next month.
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