2022 Volta a Catalunya Stage 1 Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of Stage 1 of the 2022 Volta a Catalunya! Our live profile and commentary are below, followed by a preview of the technical aspects of the route.
Course Preview
The Volta a Catalunya begins with a race from and to Sant Feliu de Guíxols after nine consecutive starts in nearby Calella. The route amounts to 171.2 kilometres, while the home straight runs uphill.
Although the Volta a Catalunya opened nine times with a race from Calella to Calella, the route was never the same. Mostly, the riders entered a big loop through the hilly interior, which is also the case in this year’s 1st stage.
The riders climb from the start and crest the first KOM peak afer 25 kilometres. The Alt de Santa Pellaia is a 5.9 kilometres climb at 4%.
Back in the valley the riders enter a calm phase before the Alt de la Ganga presents the next uphill test. It’s 3.5 kilometres long and averages 4.1%. So, again, far from the hardest climb in the world.
Same goes for the last of the three KOM ascents. The Alt de Romanyà is crested with roughly 25 kilometres left to race. The riders reach the highest point after a 5.8 kilometres climb at 4.5%.
Sant Feliu de Guíxols is an old port town with inviting sandy beaches on the Costa Brava. It shares a long history with the Volta a Catalunya. For instance, the penultimate stage of the 1926 Volta a Catalunya arrived in the coastal town with Victor Fontan taking the win. The Frenchman pocketed the overall victory the next day in Barcelona.
The most recent visit took place three years ago, when the 2nd stage ended with a technical finale and an uphill finish. Michael Matthews took the spoils ahead of Alejandro Valverde and Daryl Impey.
This year’s finale is exactly the same. In fact, the last 50 kilometres are a carbon copy.
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