Volta a Catalunya 2024: dates, stages and favorites

The Volta a Catalunya 2024 will take place between March 18 and 24. The 103rd edition of the race will cover a large part of the Catalan territory in seven stages that will once again offer a good dose of mountain. The presence of Tadej Pogacar will be the main attraction in a race where also Sepp Kuss, Geraint Thomas, or Egan Bernal, among others, will participate.

The Volta a Catalunya 2024: schedules, route, and favorites

The Volta breathes history from all sides. Here have passed illustrious names and many of the great riders of this sport. A seven-stage race that has shown almost all corners of the Catalan geography and that usually serves as a thermometer and a tune-up for those who have the Giro as their main goal. The protagonists of last year -Roglic and Evenepoel- will be replaced by a lineup that will be led by Pogacar.

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Tadej Pogacar will be the main attraction of the race. The Slovenian is the clear favorite for victory and only a major surprise could prevent him from standing on the top step of the podium. The season will be demanding and, in fact, he will start in La Volta -for the first time in his career- just two days after competing in the Milan-San Remo.

The star-studded lineup also includes figures like Sepp Kuss, Geraint Thomas, Egan Bernal, Simon Yates, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Mikel Landa, Enric Mas, or Joao Almeida, among others.

Where and when to watch the Volta a Catalunya 2024

The race will be broadcast worldwide through 15 media outlets. The broadcasts can be followed on Eurosport, RTVE, and TVC.

Stage 1 Sant Feliu de Guíxols - Sant Feliu de Guíxols

• Date: March 18
• Distance: 173.9 km
• Elevation gain: 2,272 m
• Start time: 12:25 p.m.
• Approximate arrival time: 4:30 p.m.

The Volta will start again at sea level in the town of the Costa Brava of Sant Feliu de Guíxols -race start until 2027-. The riders will face a tough route with three categorized climbs from the first day, finishing back in Sant Feliu de Guíxols.

Stage 2 Mataró - Vallter/Setcases (Vall de Camprodon)

• Date: March 19
• Distance: 186.5 km
• Elevation gain: 2,587 m
• Start time: 11:50 a.m.
• Approximate arrival time: 4:30 p.m.

The second stage will have the first mountain finish. The day will be divided into two halves: a flat first part where the cyclists will leave the coast behind and a second part where they will reach the Pyrenees and climb the Coll de Coubet before finishing in Vallter.

Stage 3 Sant Joan de les Abadesses - Port Ainé (Pallars Sobirà)

• Date: March 20
• Distance: 176.7 km
• Elevation gain: 3,925 m
• Start time: 11:50 a.m.
• Approximate arrival time: 4:30 p.m.

The race enters the Pyrenees with another mountain finish and three intense climbs: one first-category climb and two special-category climbs.

Stage 4 Sort - Lleida

• Date: March 21
• Distance: 169 km
• Elevation gain: 1,201 m
• Start time: 12:40 p.m.
• Approximate arrival time: 4:35 p.m.

A day for a mass arrival that will be decided in a sprint, although before that, a second-category climb like Port d'Àger must be overcome.

 Stage 5 Altafulla - Viladecans

• Date: March 22
• Distance: 167.3 km
• Elevation gain: 2,306 m
• Start time: 1:25 p.m.
• Approximate arrival time: 5:25 p.m.

Back on the coast, the riders will tackle the Coll de Les Ventoses and l'Alt de la Creu d'Aragall, although the route will be a constant up and down until the final kilometers, which could benefit the success of a breakaway.

 Stage 6 Berga - Queralt

• Date: March 23
• Distance: 154.7 km
• Elevation gain: 4,085 m
• Start time: 12:30 p.m.
• Approximate arrival time: 4:30 p.m.

 A tough mountain stage with five challenging ascents, among which stands out the Coll de Pradell -a special-category climb and unprecedented- and the finish at the sanctuary of Queralt -a first-category climb and unprecedented in the race-.

Stage 7 Barcelona - Barcelona

• Date: March 24
• Distance: 145.3 km
• Elevation gain: 1,943 m
• Start time: 10:30 a.m.
• Approximate arrival time: 2:00 p.m.

The stage will start in Barcelona and pass through various locations in the area, including the Coll de la Creu de l'Ordal -a third-category climb-, before heading back to Barcelona to complete six laps of the Montjuïc circuit with the six corresponding climbs to the Castle.