Adam Yates defends his crown at the Vuelta a Catalunya

The British Adam Yates (Ineos) will defend his crown at the Vuelta a Catalunya, March 21-27, against a florid squad that will feature Colombian Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde or Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz.

The best teams will meet on the Catalan roads over seven days, which include a start to neighbouring France, where Perpignan will be the end and start of the stage.

Runners will leave on Monday from Sant Feliu de Guixols to finish a week later in Barcelona after a varied route.

Ineos, the dominator of the last edition of the Catalan round, returns with Yates ready to defend their victory last year accompanied by Carapaz and Australian Richie Porte.

Colombian Nairo Quintana (Arkea), winner of the Catalan round in 2016, will also be present following his recent participation in Paris-Nice, where he finished fifth overall.

In the year of his retirement, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), winner of the Volta in 2009, 2017 and 2018, will seek winning poker, accompanied by Colombian Iván Ramiro Sosa.

Other proper names planned for this Vuelta a Catalunya are Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo-Visma) or the British Simon Yates (BikeExchange), second in the last Paris-Nice.

La Volta will start with a 171 km legbreaker stage with start and finish in Sant Feliu de Guixols crossing three 3rd category ports.

On Tuesday, the squad will leave L'Escala on its way to the French town of Perpignan, from which the third stage would start the next day to the Pyrenean ski resort of La Molina.

In the first high mountain stage, runners will climb, along 161 km, three first-class ports, in the last of which the finish line is located.

On Thursday, the mountain will continue to be the protagonist with 166.5 km between La Seu d'Urgell and the Boí Taüll ski resort, again with three top-notch highs, including the finish line.

The peloton will travel from the mountains to the sea on Friday in the longest stage of the Catalan round with 206 km between La Pobla de Segur and Vilanova i La Geltrú.

In the penultimate stage, cyclists will travel 167.5 km starting and finishing on the Costa Dorada, before facing the last stage with start and finish in Barcelona on Sunday.

This final stage will feature six ascents to the top of Montjüic, second category, in which you can still do everything.

- Program of the 101st edition of the Vuelta a Catalunya (21-27 March):

Monday 21 March: 1st stage, Sant Feliu de Guixols - Sant Feliu de Guíxols (171 km)

Tuesday 22 March: 2nd stage, L'Escala - Perpignan, (202.5 km)

Wednesday 23 March: 3rd stage, Perpignan - La Molina, (161 km)

Friday 25 March: 5th stage, La Pobla de Segur - Vilanova i La Geltrú (206 km)

Saturday 26 March: 5th stage, Salou-Cambrils (167.5 km)

Sunday 27 March: 7th and final stage, Barcelona - Barcelona (138.5 km)

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