2022 Volta a Catalunya Race Preview
The details of this year's 2022 Volta a Catalunya are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The 2022 Volta a Catalunya arrives as one of the most anticipated stage races of the early European season, offering a demanding and varied parcours that will test the very best riders in the world across seven days of racing through the stunning landscapes of Catalonia.
The race boasts a truly exceptional start list, with Primoz Roglic leading what looks like a formidable Jumbo-Visma squad. The Slovenian has shown outstanding form in recent weeks and will be looking to add this prestigious Spanish race to his palmareel. However, he will face fierce competition from an equally motivated group of rivals, most notably his countryman Tadej Pogacar, who arrives fresh from yet another dominant display and will be eager to prove himself once again over a week of challenging racing.
The route this year provides plenty of opportunities for the general classification contenders to test each other, with several summit finishes that will almost certainly shake up the standings. The iconic climb to Vallter 2000 appears on the programme, as does an ascent to Andorra, giving the pure climbers a genuine chance to put time into their rivals. The time trial element will also play a role in deciding the final outcome, potentially suiting those with a more complete skill set.
Miguel Angel Lopez, Aleksandr Vlasov, and Enric Mas are among others who could challenge for the overall honours, while the opening stages offer sprinters a rare chance to compete before the mountains take centre stage. Riders like Mads Pedersen and Pascal Ackermann will be targeting stage wins before the race heads into the high passes.
With such a competitive field and a route that demands excellence across multiple disciplines, this edition of the Volta a Catalunya promises to be a genuinely compelling contest from start to finish.
Get our full coverage of the Volta a Catalunya and every race we cover with our mobile app! The apps have over 100 additional exclusive features, including our award-winning Time Machine feature that lets you pause/rewind/replay the entire app to sync with delayed race video, integrated Fantasy Cycling, push notifications, an integrated news feed, live GPS tracking, world-class commentary, and our animated interactive maps and profiles.
