Profile stage 1: Sant Feliu de Guíxols – Sant Feliu de Guíxols
Sant Feliu de Guíxols – Sant Feliu de Guíxols, 172.6 kilometers
The race begins, as usual, in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, on the Mediterranean coast. It is a day where the sprinters, classics riders and GC specialists can all fight for the stage win, whilst the overall classification is always at play in the treacherous finale.
At first glance, the stage does not seem too difficult, with a few climbs in the first two-thirds; however, nothing excessive. The riders arrive at the key part of the stage relatively fresh; it is the final 23 kilometers that really create damage.
That is because the riders take on a road which is famously a non-stop twist-and-turn, with several small climbs and technical descents. These are roads where positioning is absolutely key, and so there will constantly be a very high pace over terrain where the peloton will inevitably be stretched and with several climbs to tackle.
Whilst attacks aren’t likely to succeed here, there is a very technical descent all the way into the final kilometer where last year Tibor del Grosso almost took a breakthrough win on the road. The final. The final 600 meters then average 5%, a sprint that is by no means easy and can in itself be a massive barrier for the sprinters.
Volta a Catalunya 2026 stage 1 Favourites
Although it does not look like it much on paper, this is a GC day. Positioning is an absolute priority for all GC teams, and they all have to battle not to lose time in a stage that, in comparison to the three mountain days, has nothing to do. But time can be lost in a finale that is so explosive and technical, whilst the uphill sprint means splits are likely.
Hence, don’t make exceptions regarding which GC men will be up there; they all will be. But a few can also fight for the stage win, and will be the main favourites even. In 2023, Remco Evenepoel was second here but showed that with good legs, he is a clear favourite. He and Tom Pidcock are two riders who pack a very strong sprint and are absolutely big contenders to win here.But even amongst the climbers, there are so many who sprint very well. If INEOS can’t rely on Dorian Godon, Oscar Onley can without a doubt pull it off; Lidl-Trek have both Giulio Ciccone and Mattias Skjelmose to play; David Gaudu performs only a few days a year, but at the Vuelta last year he beat none other than Jonas Vingegaard and Mads Pedersen in a hilly sprint…
There is Lenny Martínez, in incredible form and very explosive, fresh off just having beaten Jonas Vingegaard in the final sprint at Paris-Nice (as well as Santiago Buitrago, who can do quite well as well). And of course, Vingegaard himself, who will be aiming for bonus seconds and not losing time on his rivals.
When it comes to the sprinters, there are a few options. INEOS Grenadiers is the most obvious cause with Dorian Godon, fresh off a Paris-Nice win; the team has to manage that with the fact that they have to protect Oscar Onley and Carlos Rodríguez as well.
There is Magnus Cort Nielsen who can do something if he has the form, however I don’t think that is much the case; whilst Henok Mulubrhan is also a specialist in this kind of explosive finale and could surprise.
I think it’s in NSN where the wildcards are, the only actual sprinter team that will aim for a result here. Ethan Vernon can certainly hunt the stage win if he is able to arrive at the final climb in position, but that is a very difficult task. However, he and Brady Gilmore are both well adapted to such a finale, and there is a chance that the sprinter may still win it.
Prediction Volta a Catalunya 2026 stage 1:
*** Remco Evenepoel, Tom Pidcock
** Dorian Godon, Ethan Vernon, Giulio Ciccone, Lenny Martínez
* Jonas Vingegaard, Mattias Skjelmose, Oscar Onley, David Gaudu, Magnus Cort NIelsen, Henok Mulubrhan, Brady Gilmore
Pick: Tom Pidcock
How: Reduced bunch sprint.
Original: Rúben Silva