# 2018 Volta a Catalunya

The 2018 Volta a Catalunya was a road cycling stage race that took place between 19 and 25 March 2018 in Spain. It was the 98th edition of the Volta a Catalunya and the ninth event of the 2018 UCI World Tour.
For the second year in a row, and for the third time in his career, the race was won by Movistar Team rider Alejandro Valverde. Valverde won the second and fourth stages during the race, taking the race lead – and the mountains jersey as well – for good after his second stage victory. He finished 29 seconds clear of his nearest rival, team-mate Nairo Quintana, after Quintana's Colombian compatriot Egan Bernal (Team Sky) crashed out of the race on the final day. The podium was completed by AG2R La Mondiale's Pierre Latour, a further 18 seconds in arrears of Quintana; Bernal's withdrawal also allowed Latour to claim the young rider classification. The other jersey on offer for the sprints classification was claimed by Lluís Mas (Caja Rural–Seguros RGA), while the Movistar Team won the teams classification, after placing a third rider – Marc Soler – in the top-five overall.
Before the start of the last stage, the women's reVolta was organised for the first time.

## Teams

As the Volta a Catalunya was a UCI World Tour event, all eighteen UCI WorldTeams were invited automatically and obliged to enter a team in the race. Seven UCI Professional Continental teams competed, completing the 25-team peloton. Two of the Professional Continental teams, Burgos BH and Euskadi–Murias, made their début at UCI World Tour level.
UCI WorldTeams
* AG2R La Mondiale
* Astana
* Bahrain–Merida
* BMC Racing Team
* Bora–Hansgrohe
* EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale
* Team Dimension Data
* Team Katusha–Alpecin
* LottoNL–Jumbo
* Lotto–Soudal
* Movistar Team
* Mitchelton–Scott
* Quick-Step Floors
* Team Sky
* Team Sunweb
* Trek–Segafredo
* UAE Team Emirates
* Groupama–FDJ
UCI Professional Continental teams
* Burgos BH
* Caja Rural–Seguros RGA
* Cofidis
* Euskadi–Murias
* Fortuneo–Samsic
* Israel Cycling Academy
* Team Manzana Postobón

## Route

The full route of the 2018 Volta a Catalunya was announced on 12 March 2018.
The third stage, initially due to be held over 199.2 km (124 mi) between Sant Cugat del Vallès and Vallter 2000–Setcases, was shortened due to the threat of poor weather conditions. As a result, the stage was shortened to 153.2 km (95 mi), and the stage finish was moved to Camprodon. The sixth stage, initially due to be held over 194.2 km (121 mi) between Vielha–Val d'Aran and Torrefarrera, was shortened due to heavy snow in the start location. As a result, the stage was shortened to 117 km (73 mi), and the stage start was moved to La Pobla de Segur.
Stage schedule :
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 19 March | Calella to Calella | 152.3 km (95 mi) | Medium-mountain stage | Álvaro Hodeg (COL) |
| 2 | 20 March | Mataró to Valls | 175.6 km (109 mi) | Medium-mountain stage | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) |
| 3 | 21 March | Sant Cugat del Vallès to Camprodon | 153.2 km (95 mi) | Mountain stage | Thomas De Gendt (BEL) |
| 4 | 22 March | Llanars to La Molina | 170.8 km (106 mi) | Mountain stage | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) |
| 5 | 23 March | Llívia to Vielha–Val d'Aran | 212.9 km (132 mi) | Medium-mountain stage | Jarlinson Pantano (COL) |
| 6 | 24 March | La Pobla de Segur to Torrefarrera | 117 km (73 mi) | Hilly stage | Maximilian Schachmann (GER) |
| 7 | 25 March | Barcelona to Barcelona | 154.8 km (96 mi) | Hilly stage | Simon Yates (GBR) |

## Stages
### Stage 1
#### 19 March 2018 — Calella to Calella, 152.3 km (95 mi)

Result of Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Álvaro Hodeg (COL) | Quick-Step Floors | 3h 39' 31" |
| 2 | Sam Bennett (IRL) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 0" |
| 3 | Jay McCarthy (AUS) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 0" |
| 4 | Michael Mørkøv (DEN) | Quick-Step Floors | + 0" |
| 5 | Roberto Ferrari (ITA) | UAE Team Emirates | + 0" |
| 6 | Niccolò Bonifazio (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | + 0" |
| 7 | Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) | Cofidis | + 0" |
| 8 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 0" |
| 9 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 0" |
| 10 | Zak Dempster (AUS) | Israel Cycling Academy | + 0" |
General classification after Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Álvaro Hodeg (COL) | Quick-Step Floors | 3h 39' 21" |
| 2 | Sam Bennett (IRL) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 4" |
| 3 | Andriy Hrivko (UKR) | Astana | + 5" |
| 4 | Jay McCarthy (AUS) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 6" |
| 5 | Michael Mørkøv (DEN) | Quick-Step Floors | + 10" |
| 6 | Roberto Ferrari (ITA) | UAE Team Emirates | + 10" |
| 7 | Niccolò Bonifazio (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | + 10" |
| 8 | Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) | Cofidis | + 10" |
| 9 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 10" |
| 10 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 10" |

### Stage 2
#### 20 March 2018 — Mataró to Valls, 175.6 km (109 mi)

Result of Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 4h 41' 50" |
| 2 | Daryl Impey (RSA) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 0" |
| 3 | Jay McCarthy (AUS) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 0" |
| 4 | Egan Bernal (COL) | Team Sky | + 0" |
| 5 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 0" |
| 6 | Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | + 0" |
| 7 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 0" |
| 8 | Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBR) | Team Sky | + 0" |
| 9 | Toms Skujiņš (LAT) | Trek–Segafredo | + 0" |
| 10 | Alex Howes (USA) | EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale | + 0" |
General classification after Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 8h 21' 09" |
| 2 | Jay McCarthy (AUS) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 4" |
| 3 | Daryl Impey (RSA) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 6" |
| 4 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | + 11" |
| 5 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 12" |
| 6 | Bob Jungels (LUX) | Quick-Step Floors | + 12" |
| 7 | Eduard Prades (ESP) | Euskadi–Murias | + 12" |
| 8 | Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | + 12" |
| 9 | Jordi Simón (ESP) | Burgos BH | + 12" |
| 10 | Egan Bernal (COL) | Team Sky | + 12" |

### Stage 3
#### 21 March 2018 — Sant Cugat del Vallès to Camprodon, 153.2 km (95 mi)

Result of Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Thomas De Gendt (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 4h 13' 48" |
| 2 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 20" |
| 3 | Thibaut Pinot (FRA) | Groupama–FDJ | + 20" |
| 4 | Mathias Frank (SUI) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 20" |
| 5 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | + 20" |
| 6 | Giovanni Visconti (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | + 20" |
| 7 | Maximilian Schachmann (GER) | Quick-Step Floors | + 20" |
| 8 | Egan Bernal (COL) | Team Sky | + 20" |
| 9 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 20" |
| 10 | Bob Jungels (LUX) | Quick-Step Floors | + 20" |
General classification after Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Thomas De Gendt (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 12h 34' 54" |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 23" |
| 3 | Jay McCarthy (AUS) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 27" |
| 4 | Daryl Impey (RSA) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 29" |
| 5 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 29" |
| 6 | Thibaut Pinot (FRA) | Groupama–FDJ | + 31" |
| 7 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | + 34" |
| 8 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 35" |
| 9 | Bob Jungels (LUX) | Quick-Step Floors | + 35" |
| 10 | Eduard Prades (ESP) | Euskadi–Murias | + 35" |

### Stage 4
#### 22 March 2018 — Llanars to La Molina, 170.8 km (106 mi)

Result of Stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 4h 25' 54" |
| 2 | Egan Bernal (COL) | Team Sky | + 0" |
| 3 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | + 6" |
| 4 | Pierre Latour (FRA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 23" |
| 5 | Thibaut Pinot (FRA) | Groupama–FDJ | + 53" |
| 6 | Marc Soler (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 53" |
| 7 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 53" |
| 8 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 55" |
| 9 | Hugh Carthy (GBR) | EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale | + 59" |
| 10 | Daniel Martínez (COL) | EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale | + 1' 03" |
General classification after Stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 17h 00' 58" |
| 2 | Egan Bernal (COL) | Team Sky | + 19" |
| 3 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | + 26" |
| 4 | Pierre Latour (FRA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 48" |
| 5 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 1' 12" |
| 6 | Thibaut Pinot (FRA) | Groupama–FDJ | + 1' 14" |
| 7 | Marc Soler (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 1' 18" |
| 8 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 1' 20" |
| 9 | Hugh Carthy (GBR) | EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale | + 1' 24" |
| 10 | Steven Kruijswijk (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 1' 28" |

### Stage 5
#### 23 March 2018 — Llívia to Vielha–Val d'Aran, 212.9 km (132 mi)

Result of Stage 5 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jarlinson Pantano (COL) | Trek–Segafredo | 5h 20' 53" |
| 2 | Vegard Stake Laengen (NOR) | UAE Team Emirates | + 0" |
| 3 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 10" |
| 4 | Giovanni Visconti (ITA) | Bahrain–Merida | + 10" |
| 5 | Danilo Wyss (SUI) | BMC Racing Team | + 10" |
| 6 | Sergey Chernetskiy (RUS) | Astana | + 12" |
| 7 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 14" |
| 8 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 14" |
| 9 | Dorian Godon (FRA) | Cofidis | + 14" |
| 10 | Bjorg Lambrecht (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 14" |
General classification after Stage 5 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 22h 22' 05" |
| 2 | Egan Bernal (COL) | Team Sky | + 16" |
| 3 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | + 26" |
| 4 | Pierre Latour (FRA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 48" |
| 5 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 1' 12" |
| 6 | Marc Soler (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 1' 18" |
| 7 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 1' 20" |
| 8 | Hugh Carthy (GBR) | EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale | + 1' 24" |
| 9 | Daniel Martínez (COL) | EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale | + 1' 26" |
| 10 | Jesper Hansen (DEN) | Astana | + 1' 28" |

### Stage 6
#### 24 March 2018 — La Pobla de Segur to Torrefarrera, 117 km (73 mi)

Result of Stage 6 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Maximilian Schachmann (GER) | Quick-Step Floors | 2h 34' 25" |
| 2 | Diego Rubio (ESP) | Burgos BH | + 0" |
| 3 | Sam Bennett (IRL) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 18" |
| 4 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 18" |
| 5 | Roberto Ferrari (ITA) | UAE Team Emirates | + 18" |
| 6 | Enrique Sanz (ESP) | Euskadi–Murias | + 18" |
| 7 | Egan Bernal (COL) | Team Sky | + 18" |
| 8 | Danilo Wyss (SUI) | BMC Racing Team | + 18" |
| 9 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 18" |
| 10 | Benoît Jarrier (FRA) | Fortuneo–Samsic | + 18" |
General classification after Stage 6 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 24h 56' 48" |
| 2 | Egan Bernal (COL) | Team Sky | + 16" |
| 3 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | + 26" |
| 4 | Pierre Latour (FRA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 48" |
| 5 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 1' 12" |
| 6 | Marc Soler (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 1' 18" |
| 7 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 1' 20" |
| 8 | Hugh Carthy (GBR) | EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale | + 1' 24" |
| 9 | Daniel Martínez (COL) | EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale | + 1' 26" |
| 10 | Jesper Hansen (DEN) | Astana | + 1' 28" |

### Stage 7
#### 25 March 2018 — Barcelona to Barcelona, 154.8 km (96 mi)

Result of Stage 7 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | 3h 28' 04" |
| 2 | Marc Soler (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 13" |
| 3 | Pierre Latour (FRA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 18" |
| 4 | Jarlinson Pantano (COL) | Trek–Segafredo | + 18" |
| 5 | Jay McCarthy (AUS) | Bora–Hansgrohe | + 18" |
| 6 | Matej Mohorič (SLO) | Bahrain–Merida | + 18" |
| 7 | Steven Kruijswijk (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 18" |
| 8 | Warren Barguil (FRA) | Fortuneo–Samsic | + 18" |
| 9 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 18" |
| 10 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 18" |
Final general classification :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 28h 25' 07" |
| 2 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | + 29" |
| 3 | Pierre Latour (FRA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 47" |
| 4 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Mitchelton–Scott | + 47" |
| 5 | Marc Soler (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 1' 10" |
| 6 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 1' 23" |
| 7 | Daniel Martínez (COL) | EF Education First–Drapac p/b Cannondale | + 1' 29" |
| 8 | Steven Kruijswijk (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 1' 31" |
| 9 | Jesper Hansen (DEN) | Astana | + 1' 31" |
| 10 | Thibaut Pinot (FRA) | Groupama–FDJ | + 1' 34" |

## Classification leadership table

In the 2018 Volta a Catalunya, four different jerseys were awarded. The general classification was calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage. Time bonuses were awarded to the first three finishers on all stages: the stage winner won a ten-second bonus, with six and four seconds for the second and third riders respectively. Bonus seconds were also awarded to the first three riders at intermediate sprints; three seconds for the winner of the sprint, two seconds for the rider in second and one second for the rider in third. The leader of the general classification received a white and green jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the 2018 Volta a Catalunya, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.
Points for the mountains classification :
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Points for Special | 26 | 20 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Points for Category 1 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Points for Category 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Points for Category 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The second classification was the sprints classification, the leader of which was awarded a white and orange jersey. In the sprints classification, riders received points for finishing in the top three at intermediate sprint points during each stage. There was also a mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a white and red jersey. Points for this classification were won by the first riders to the top of each categorised climb, with more points available for the higher-categorised climbs. Double points were also scheduled to be awarded at the summit finishes at Vallter 2000–Setcases (special-category) and La Molina (first-category), however the Vallter 2000–Setcases finish was removed due to the threat of poor weather.
The fourth jersey represented the young rider classification, marked by a white and blue jersey. Only riders born after 1 January 1993 were eligible; the young rider best placed in the general classification was the leader of the young rider classification. There was also a classification for teams, in which the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added together; the leading team at the end of the race was the team with the lowest total time.
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Mountains classification | Sprints classification | Young rider classification | Teams classification |
| 1 | Álvaro Hodeg | Álvaro Hodeg | Wilmar Paredes | Tom Bohli | Álvaro Hodeg | Bora–Hansgrohe |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde | Alejandro Valverde | Pierre Latour | Tom Bohli | Matej Mohorič | Bahrain–Merida |
| 3 | Thomas De Gendt | Thomas De Gendt | Thomas De Gendt | Lluís Mas | Matej Mohorič | Lotto–Soudal |
| 4 | Alejandro Valverde | Alejandro Valverde | Alejandro Valverde | Lluís Mas | Egan Bernal | Movistar Team |
| 5 | Jarlinson Pantano | Alejandro Valverde | Alejandro Valverde | Lluís Mas | Egan Bernal | Movistar Team |
| 6 | Maximilian Schachmann | Alejandro Valverde | Alejandro Valverde | Lluís Mas | Egan Bernal | Movistar Team |
| 7 | Simon Yates | Alejandro Valverde | Alejandro Valverde | Lluís Mas | Pierre Latour | Movistar Team |
| Final | Final | Alejandro Valverde | Alejandro Valverde | Lluís Mas | Pierre Latour | Movistar Team |