2026 Volta a Catalunya Stage 1 Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of Stage 1 of the 2026 Volta a Catalunya! Our live profile and commentary are below, followed by a preview of the technical aspects of the route.
Course Preview
For the fifth year running, the Volta a Catalunya kicks off in Sant Feliu de GuĂxols. The riders also finish there too at the end of a 172.2-kilometre race with over 2,100 metres of climbing. A tricky finale awaits the riders in the Catalan coastal town.
The route of the Sant Feliu de GuĂxols stage varies yearly, but the essence is always the same. After tackling several climbs along the way, the riders head towards a demanding finale in Sant Feliu de GuĂxols. Following a technical section with plenty of twists and turns and a few rising stretches, the road ramps up to around 5% in the final 500 metres.
Last year, Tibo Del Grosso almost pulled off a surprise with a late attack that came about more or less by accident. On the rain-soaked descent towards the finish town he opened a gap wthout knowing it. But once he realised this, he pressed on and started the final 500 metres with roughly a 100-metre advantage. Matthew Brennan spotted the danger and blasted clear from the peloton. After Del Grosso ran out of steam, the young Brit caught him in the final 5 metres and took the win.
The first KOM points are available soon after the start on the Alt de RomanyĂ , a 4.4-kilometre climb with an average gradient of 3.8%. The riders then continue over gently rolling roads to the foot of the Alt de Sant Hilari. That climb is mainly notable for its length: no less than 14.6 kilometres, although the gradient is a modest 3%. At the summit, the riders still have just under 100 kilometres to go.
After passing through Tossa del Mar, the riders follow a constantly undulating coastal road towards the finish, making the finale a carbon copy of last year. In fact, it is not only the finale that is identical. From the passage through Llagostera, with around 40 kilometres remaining, the riders follow exactly the same roads as they did then.
On the coastal road from Tossa del Mar, two 1.8-kilometre climbs stand out: the first averages 5.4%, the second 4.9%. The latter is situated inside the 10 last kilometres.
The first three riders across the line gain 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds, while the intermediate sprints offer 3, 2 and 1 seconds.
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