Pereiro, Valverde among favorites going into Catalunya

By Hernan Alvarez

The Volta a Catalunya is the oldest race on Spanish soil, having begun in 1911. Most of the top racers not in the Giro d'Italia will be starting the 87th edition of the Catalonian race next Monday including Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana), Alejandro Valverde (Caisse D'Epargne), and Oscar Pereiro (Caisse D'Epargne) and other Spanish riders like Ruben Plaza (Caisse D'Epargne), Isaac Vicioso (Relax Gam), Oscar Sevilla (Relax Gam), Francisco Mancebo (Relax Gam), Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), and Igor Astarloa (Milram). Those coming to Spain include Erik Zabel (Milram) and Daniele Bennati (Lampre).