First mountain stage of the Tour of Catalonia cut short: organizers cancel final climb to Vallter 2000

Thursday was actually supposed to deliver the first clash between the climbers in the Tour of Catalonia, but after a route change, it is no longer a genuine mountain stage. The final climb to Vallter 2000 has been removed from the course due to strong winds in the finish town.

Wind gusts up to 90 kilometers per hour are expected on the climb, the organizers wrote on social media. "Therefore, we are forced to shorten the route of the fourth stage, scheduled for Thursday, March 26," they said. "The stage, which starts in Mataró, will now finish in the town of Camprodon, with the final climb to the ski resort canceled."

Due to the change, the stage will start half an hour later. The riders will now depart at 13:05 from Mataró, as originally planned. Shortly after the start, the Coll de Parpers (4.7 km at 3.7%) and Alt de Sant Feliu de Codines (4.6 km at 4.1%) will appear. Initially, these were just warm-up climbs for the final ascent to Vallter 2000 (11.4 km at 7.6%), but with that climb removed, they have become the main obstacles of the day.

After the Alt de Sant Feliu de Codines, the route traverses rugged terrain towards Camprodon. This location, originally 23 kilometers from the finish, is now the new finish line. The stage is now 150 kilometers instead of 173 kilometers. The last 50 kilometers no longer require serious climbing.

The original route: