[TheBlaaMan]

The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya is Spain's second biggest bike race after the Vuelta and the third oldest (1911) stage race in the world behind the Tour (1903) and the Giro (1909).

Stage 1 tomorrow.

Calella → Calella, 139 km

Stage 1 is a loop starting and ending in Calella, just up the coast from Barcelona. It is only 139 km and there are three categorized climbs including at cat 1 at the halfway point. Chances are the race will come back together for the cat 3 climb near the finish. Expect the sprinter teams (GreenEDGE) to chase down the break over the remaining 18 km to try and set up a sprint finish (Allan Davis), one of the few expected this week.





Nicolas Roche leading AG2R and Dan Martin leading Garmin-Barracuda.Andy Schelck, Brad Wiggins, Alejandro Valverde, Ivan Basso, Denis Menchov and Levi Leipheimer all on start list too.

Some significan t climbs on most days and especially on Wednesday.

[buffalo]

Can we not have stage-specific daily threads with no spoilers needed, and a general thread where there's no spoilers allowed?

[sy]

Great field. Dan Martin's first big one. I think he can do well here. Maybe a stage and possible top 3. Not sure what his form is like at the moment. Nicholas Roche is riding too.

[TheBlaaMan]

Originally Posted by buffalo

Can we not have stage-specific daily threads with no spoilers needed, and a general thread where there's no spoilers allowed?

Up to the mods..........

I thought that for lesser races (than the grand tours) the general format was one thread, but it can be easily changed, I presume.

[buffalo]

Originally Posted by sy

Great field. Dan Martin's first big one. I think he can do well here. Maybe a stage and possible top 3. Not sure what his form is like at the moment. Nicholas Roche is riding too.

Plus one on Dan Martin. Looking forward to seeing him get a stage. PaddyPower has him joint second favourite overall at 8/1 with Sammy Sanchez. Valverde is top.

[ROK ON]

Some really good lineups. Hopefully Martin will do well. Can't see past Valverde, but so many good teams.

[Beasty]

Originally Posted by TheBlaaMan

Up to the mods..........

I thought that for lesser races (than the grand tours) the general format was one thread, but it can be easily changed, I presume.

Not up to the mods - it's up to the users. If anyone wants a stage specific threas, feel free to start one. Previous experience is it tends to only be kept up on the Grand Tours though...

[happytramp]

I think as long as the OP (or whoever) is willing to keep posting up the days stage info we should be okay.

[TheBlaaMan]

Spoiler: A(nother) win for GreenEdge in Stage 1. A lead of 1'42" apparently suggests that the lead may not change tomorrow ?

Also, it appears Joaquim Rodriquez isn't taking part (despite the suitable parcours) because he hurt his feet in new shoes he wore at Tirenno-Adriatico.

Anyway, on to Stage 2. A Cat1 climb peaks 11km from the stage end, so some fireworks on the way up, if a decisive break hasn't been allowed to get away earlier. all taking place in the familiar back yard of a number of the high profile guys in the peleton, so they should be familiar with the routes all week

[happytramp]

My prediction. Break to be swept up before the descent and Valverde to win it in a smallish group sprint.

[buffalo]

Spoiler: Great ride by Albasini, and yeah, I agree that the winning margin will only be dented slightly tomorrow.

[ROK ON]

Dan Martin tweeted last night that he believes he can win the Volta. He is hoping he can actually get to the climbs as there is some heavy snowfall predicted in the mountains.

[dastardly00]

Live coverage of Stage 2 starting on British Eurosport now

[dastardly00]

Spoiler: Valverde is about 1 minute behind the main favourites on the last climb due to mechanical problems and crosswinds.

[ROK ON]

Spoiler: Dan in the break with 3km to go. 10 sec. Cunego with him

Caught now