Tour of Catalonia 2023: Route, start list & TV broadcast

Thomas Goldmann

· 22.03.2023

The stages of the Tour of Catalonia 2023: Stage 1

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Photo: Veranstalter

Seven challenging stages await the riders in the 2023 Tour of Catalonia from 20 to 26 March. Cycling fans can look forward to a clash between two Giro favourites.

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The Tour of Catalonia (official name Volta Ciclista a Catalunya) is a one-week tour that is part of the UCI World Tour. Alongside the Tour of the Basque Country, the Tour of Catalonia 2023 is the most important one-week stage race in Spain. The first edition took place in 1911. In 2021, the tour was held for the 100th time. Big names in cycling such as Luis Ocana, Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain and Alejandro Valverde have entered their names on the list of winners. Last year, Sergio Higuita triumphed for the German team Bora-Hansgrohe.

The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2023 comprises seven stages, from Sant Feliu de Guixols to Barcelona, a total of 1194.4 kilometres. Three mountain finishes - Vallter, La Molina and Lo Port - are on the programme, but sprinters and puncheurs will also get their chance.

Photo: VeranstalterThe Tour of Catalonia 2023 on the map

Tour of Catalonia 2023: The favourites

From a sporting perspective, the 2023 Tour of Catalonia offers a foretaste of the Giro d'Italia. With Remco Evenepoel (Soudal - Quick Step) and Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), two of the protagonists who are also likely to dominate the action on the roads of Italy in May will meet here. In addition, Egan Bernal, Geraint Thomas (both Ineos Grenadiers), Richard Carapaz (EF Education EasyPost), Joao Almeida and Adam Yates (both UAE Team Emirates), Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) and Ben O'Connor (AG2R-Citroën Team) will start at the Volta a Catalunya.

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Photo: Getty VeloRemco Evenepoel (left) and Primoz Roglic have already fought a duel at the Vuelta a Espana 2022

Tour of Catalonia 2023 route - the stages

Stage 1 | Monday, 20 March | Sant Feliu de Guixols - Sant Feliu de Guixols | 164.5 kilometres

Official start: 13:05
Arrival at the finish: ~16:49 - 17:11

The Volta a Catalunya kicks off with a challenging stage. Four mountain classifications and a finale with a few spikes in the profile. The last time stages of the Tour of Catalunya ended in Sant Feliu de Guixols was in 2019 and 2022 - both times a sprinter with a good head for hills won with Michael Matthews. A similar scenario is likely in 2023.

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Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of the 1st stage

>> To the race report of stage 1

Stage 2 | Tuesday, 21 March | Mataro - Vallter | 165.5 kilometres

Official start: 12:50
Arrival at the finish: ~16:46 - 17:11

The first mountain finish follows on the second day. The battle for the stage win will most likely only be decided in the final kilometres on the way to Vallter. The Tour of Catalonia has already stopped there six times. The last two arrivals were won by Adam Yates - in 2021 and 2019.

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of the 2nd stage

>> To the race report of stage 2

Stage 3 | Wednesday, 22nd March | Olost - La Molina | 180.5 kilometres

Official start: 12:05
Arrival at the finish: ~16:42 - 17:14

Another mountain finish, this time the stage is a little more demanding with Coll de Coubet and Coll de la Creueta, but the final climb to La Molina is a classic roller climb with a length of around 12 kilometres and a gradient of 4.4 per cent. Large time gaps are hardly to be expected.

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of the 3rd stage

>> To the race report of the 3rd stage

Stage 4 | Thursday, 23 March | Llivia - Sabadell | 188 kilometres

Official start: 12:45
Arrival at the finish: ~17:01 - 17:27

The sprinters should have a good chance on the longest stage of the Tour of Catalonia. Although there is another climb to La Molina after the start and two more mountain classifications, the finale is downhill and should suit the fast men.

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of the 4th stage

>> To the race report of stage 4

Stage 5 | Friday, 24 March | Terres de l'Ebre (Tortosa - Lo Port) - Terres de l'Ebre (Tortosa - Lo Port) | 176.5 kilometres

Official start: 12:45
Arrival at the finish: ~17:05 - 17:29

The third mountain finish of the Volta a Catalunya 2023 is something for the pure climbing specialists. Everything will focus on the final climb, Mont Caro is 8.4 kilometres long with a 9 per cent average gradient. There are ramps of up to 20 per cent, which are ideal for bringing about a preliminary decision in the overall standings.

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of the 5th stage

>> To the race report of stage 5

Stage 6 | Saturday, 25 March | Martorell - Molins de Rei | 183 kilometres

Official start: 12:40
Arrival at the finish: ~16:49 - 17:14

A difficult stage to predict. A breakaway victory, a sprint by a large group or even an attack by a classics rider on one of the last two climbs is conceivable.

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of stage 6

>> To the race report of stage 6

Stage 7 | Sunday, 26 March | Barcelona - Barcelona | 136 kilometres

Official start: 10:45
Arrival at the finish: ~13:50 - 14:08

The 2023 Tour of Catalonia ends in classic style on a circuit in Barcelona with the Montjuic. A classic profile that allows for further shifts in the overall standings.

Photo: VeranstalterThe elevation profile of stage 7

>> To the race report of stage 7

Tour of Catalonia 2023: TV broadcast & live stream

The Tour of Catalonia 2023 will be broadcast on Eurosport TV. The first four stages can be seen on Eurosport 1, stage five only digitally and stages six and seven on Eurosport 2. Discovery+ and GCN+ (both via paid subscription) also offer a live stream of all stages of the Volta a Catalunya.