Uijtdebroeks debuts as leader of Movistar against Evenepoel: favorites and how to follow the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2026

The cycling season is starting to get interesting after an unexpected last week in which Remco Evenepoel, beginning his season earlier than ever, comfortably won three of the trophies at the Challenge of Mallorca. The Belgian aims to continue his triumphant march in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, which takes place from February 4 to 8, where the level of his rivals will be much higher than in the Balearic Islands.

Luxury Participation for the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2026

Not only do his three convincing victories in Mallorca make Remco Evenepoel the top favorite for victory in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, but the fact that the race has included an individual time trial this year only increases the chances of seeing the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe rider at the top of the podium in his first test of 2026 with the time trial bike.

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In any case, Remco Evenepoel will not have it easy as he will face some significant rivals who could spoil his party, starting with Joao Almeida, who kicks off his campaign here with the goal of maintaining the progression he demonstrated last year, which made him the king of one-week tours.

It will also be interesting to see what a strengthened Movistar can do against him, with their new leader, Cian Uijtdebroeks, debuting with the hope of consolidating the change of trend for the Navarre team. Movistar will also count on the strengths of reliable cyclists like Iván Romeo and Raúl García Pierna, from whom a leap in level is expected for 2026.

Finally, we should not lose sight of Antonio Tiberi, always ready to surprise, who can defend himself like a cat on its back in the rugged terrain of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, even though the time trial may pose a significant setback for his aspirations for the final victory.

Route of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2026

Five stages with contained mileage and measured difficulty to adapt to the start of the season are the ingredients of a Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana that will have its main attraction in the 17.5 km time trial that will take place in the second stage between Carlet and Alginet.

Before that, the race will have started with a leg-breaking day through the interior of Castellón, although with a favorable finish for a more than predictable mass arrival. A similar proposal to that of the third stage, finishing in San Vicente del Raspeig, which is practically flat except for a small incursion into the interior in the final third, where the ascent to Tibi will take place, which should not cause splits affecting the general classification.

It will be the 4th stage that decides the race, also in Alicante lands, where the climbs of the Marina Alta, which professionals have been traversing in their winter training camps for weeks, will be the judges of the event, especially the ascent to Cubres del Sol located just over 10 kilometers from the finish in Teulada-Moraira.

The Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana will close with the already traditional route around Valencia, with the ascent to iconic climbs for cyclists in this province such as L'Oronet and Garbí, although located far from the conclusion in the capital of Turia, so it seems guaranteed that the outcome will again occur in a mass finish.

How to Watch the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2026

Eurosport and HBO-Max will be the only option to follow the Valencian race live. The well-known sports television has scheduled the broadcast of the race both on the Eurosport 2 channel and on the online platform HBO-Max, where the channel has been integrated with broadcasts starting around 15:30.