2026 Volta a Catalunya Stage 2 Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of Stage 2 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
In stage 2 of the Volta a Catalunya, the riders cover just over 2,100 metres of climbing across 167.4 kilometres. The climbs are never particularly demanding, but the route is rarely flat either. The road mainly trends downhill in the final 25 kilometres, before the last 500 metres rises lighlt to the line. The climbs are never especially tough, but the route is rarely flat. The road mainly trends downhill in the final 25 kilometres, before the final 500 metres rise slightly to the line.
The relationship between the Volta a Catalunya and Figueres dates back many years. In 1923, JosĂ© Pelletier won the 3rd stage of the 5th edition in the birthplace of Salvador DalĂ. However, the love affair had cooled considerably in recent decades until the race finally paid the town another visit last year. Stage 2 finished in Figueres, with Ethan Vernon powering to victory ahead of Matthew Brennan and Kaden Groves. It was the first finish there since 1968, when Eddy Merckx’s domestique Roger Swerts celebrated victory.
Last year the riders arrived from Banyoles, which now serves as the finishing town. Whether it will again be a chance for the sprinters remains to be seen, as the route is far from flat. At the same time, the climbs are not particularly difficult either, so it could still turn into a fast finishers bonanza.
In the past, the town has hosted several sprint finishes. In the 2013 Volta a Catalunya Gianni Meersman was the fastest in Banyoles, in 2010 Mark Cavendish, and in 2008 Thor Hushovd.
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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