'Like the last day of a Grand Tour' - radically changed Volta a Catalunya mountain stage leaves peloton perplexed and disappointed

Tour of Catalonia chairman Ruben Peris (2R) talks to riders as strong winds threaten the departure of the 6th stage of the 2025 Volta a Catalunya cycling tour of Catalonia, a 159km stage race between Berga and Queralt, on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Volta a Catalunya chair Ruben Peris discusses the plans with riders before stage 6 (Image credit: Getty Images)

From the most decisive mountain day to 145 kilometres of flat to a near-criterium just 25 kilometres long: the continual changes in format of stage 6 of the Volta a Catalunya left riders as confused, bewildered and - in some cases at least - disappointed that what should have been a major day of racing ended up all but shorn of any real significance.

There were huge crowds at the improvised finish in Berga, which to the credit of the organisers, had been rapidly and effectively set up to try and give the thousands of fans present for what should have been a finish in the nearby summit of Queralt something to cheer and watch.

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.