When I read through the start list for the Volta a Catalunya 2026 I was properly impressed. Everyone who likes to think of themselves as a serious GC racer was present. Everyone except for Tadej Pogačar, who was enjoying a separate program of Classics because he felt he saw a chance to fill in the few holes in his illustrious palmarès. We won’t see him in a stage race until the Tour of Romandie at the end of April.
Other than the world's number one ranked rider, all the big team leaders lined up for the opportunity to find out where they were in the hierarchy and, just as importantly, how the riders they would compete against in the coming Grand Tours were looking too.
