While most attention of the cycling world is on the Spring Classics, the stage racers have plenty of action in March with the Volta a Catalunya from March 18 to 24 following Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico.
With a run through the soaring Pyrenees and a stint in the shorter but steep climbs of the Catalan coastal range, the race caters to Grand Tour contenders preparing for the Giro d’Italia or finding early-season form far ahead of the Tour de France.
The 2024 edition wastes no time sending riders into the high peaks with the first high-altitude summit coming on stage 2 at the Vallter 2000/Setcases ski resort.
Even the so-called flat stages feature mountains and there is no time trial, so the race offers little for sprinters or riders who are allergic to climbing.
Read on to learn about the full route for the 2024 Volta a Catalunya.
Stage 1
Sant Feliu de Guíxols hosts the opening stage of the 2024 Volta a Catalunya with a 173.9km stage punctuated by four significant climbs. The stage begins on the coast but heads inland for a series of intersecting loops. The climbing begins from the gun with the category 3 Alt de Romanya and Alt de la Ganga in the first 30km and the Alt dels Angels at kilometre 55.3. Even the flatter midsection is peppered with short ascents making for a tough day in the saddle. The stage culminates with the Alt de Sant with 20km to go and a fast descent to the finish in Sant Feliu de Guíxols.
Stage 2
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The second stage is up, up and away! A flatter run-out than the opening stage runs along the coast toward Sant Feliu de Guíxols before taking a sharp inland turn and heading toward the mountains. The serious climbing starts 130km into the 186.5km stage and brings riders above 2,000 metres in altitude at the summit of the final climb to the Vallter 2000 ski station. It’s the sixth time a stage of the Volta a Catalunya has finished on the climb. Last year Giulio Ciccone won ahead of leader Primož Roglič. Other recent winners of this stage include Adam Yates (twice), Tejay van Garderen and Nairo Quintana.
Stage 3
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The riders of the Volta a Catalunya get no breaks on stage 3 with a second consecutive high mountain finish atop the Port Ainé just one of three huge climbs on the 176.7km stage from Sant Joan de les Abadesses.
The stage starts with a long ascent to the category 1 Port de…
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