# 2015 Volta a Catalunya

The 2015 Volta a Catalunya was the 95th edition of the Volta a Catalunya stage race. It took place from 23 to 29 March and was the fifth race of the 2015 UCI World Tour. Defending champion Joaquim Rodríguez was scheduled to defend his title, but was pulled from the event days before it was due to start citing a stomach virus. The race was won by Richie Porte (Team Sky), his second race win of the season, with Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) in second and Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) in third.

## Route

Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 23 March | Calella to Calella | 185.2 km (115 mi) | Medium-mountain stage | Maciej Paterski (POL) |
| 2 | 24 March | Mataró to Olot | 191.8 km (119 mi) | Medium-mountain stage | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) |
| 3 | 25 March | Girona to Girona | 156.6 km (97 mi) | Medium-mountain stage | Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) |
| 4 | 26 March | Tona to La Molina | 188.4 km (117 mi) | Mountain stage | Tejay van Garderen (USA) |
| 5 | 27 March | Alp to Valls | 195.4 km (121 mi) | Medium-mountain stage | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) |
| 6 | 28 March | Cervera to PortAventura | 194.1 km (121 mi) | Medium-mountain stage | Sergey Chernetskiy (RUS) |
| 7 | 29 March | Barcelona to Barcelona | 126.6 km (79 mi) | Flat stage | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) |

## Participating teams

The Volta a Catalunya is part of the UCI World Tour, which meant that the 17 UCI WorldTeams were automatically invited and obliged to send a team. The race organisers also made seven wildcard invitations to UCI Professional Continental teams. The peloton was therefore made up of 24 teams.
UCI WorldTeams
* AG2R La Mondiale
* Astana
* BMC Racing Team
* Etixx–Quick-Step
* FDJ
* IAM Cycling
* Lampre–Merida
* Lotto–Soudal
* Movistar Team
* Orica–GreenEDGE
* Cannondale–Garmin
* Team Giant–Alpecin
* Team Katusha
* LottoNL–Jumbo
* Team Sky
* Tinkoff–Saxo
* Trek Factory Racing
UCI Professional Continental teams
* Bretagne–Séché Environnement
* Caja Rural–Seguros RGA
* CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice
* Cofidis
* Colombia
* Team Europcar
* Wanty–Groupe Gobert

## Stages
### Stage 1
#### 23 March 2015 — Calella to Calella, 185.2 km (115.1 mi)

Stage 1 result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Maciej Paterski (POL) | CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice | 4h 33' 41" |
| 2 | Pierre Rolland (FRA) | Team Europcar | + 0" |
| 3 | Bart De Clercq (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 2" |
| 4 | Tosh Van der Sande (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 2' 40" |
| 5 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 2' 40" |
| 6 | Paolo Tiralongo (ITA) | Astana | + 2' 40" |
| 7 | Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 2' 40" |
| 8 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | Team Europcar | + 2' 40" |
| 9 | Carlos Barbero (ESP) | Caja Rural–Seguros RGA | + 2' 40" |
| 10 | Julien Simon (FRA) | Cofidis | + 2' 40" |
General classification after stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Maciej Paterski (POL) | CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice | 4h 33' 31" |
| 2 | Pierre Rolland (FRA) | Team Europcar | + 4" |
| 3 | Bart De Clercq (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 8" |
| 4 | Wout Poels (NED) | Team Sky | + 2' 47" |
| 5 | Nicolas Roche (IRE) | Team Sky | + 2' 48" |
| 6 | Dan Martin (IRE) | Cannondale–Garmin | + 2' 49" |
| 7 | Tosh Van der Sande (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 2' 50" |
| 8 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 2' 50" |
| 9 | Paolo Tiralongo (ITA) | Astana | + 2' 50" |
| 10 | Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 2' 50" |

### Stage 2
#### 24 March 2015 — Mataró to Olot, 191.8 km (119.2 mi)

Stage 2 result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 5h 02' 49" |
| 2 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 0" |
| 3 | Martin Elmiger (SUI) | IAM Cycling | + 0" |
| 4 | Jonathan Hivert (FRA) | Bretagne–Séché Environnement | + 0" |
| 5 | Wilco Kelderman (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 0" |
| 6 | Julien Simon (FRA) | Cofidis | + 0" |
| 7 | Eduard Prades (ESP) | Caja Rural–Seguros RGA | + 0" |
| 8 | Fábio Silvestre (POR) | Trek Factory Racing | + 0" |
| 9 | Pavel Kochetkov (RUS) | Team Katusha | + 0" |
| 10 | Davide Malacarne (ITA) | Astana | + 0" |
General classification after stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Maciej Paterski (POL) | CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice | 9h 36' 20" |
| 2 | Pierre Rolland (FRA) | Team Europcar | + 4" |
| 3 | Bart De Clercq (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 8" |
| 4 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 2' 40" |
| 5 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 2' 44" |
| 6 | Martin Elmiger (SUI) | IAM Cycling | + 2' 46" |
| 7 | Wout Poels (NED) | Team Sky | + 2' 47" |
| 8 | Nicolas Roche (IRE) | Team Sky | + 2' 48" |
| 9 | Dan Martin (IRE) | Cannondale–Garmin | + 2' 49" |
| 10 | Julien Simon (FRA) | Cofidis | + 2' 50" |

### Stage 3
#### 25 March 2015 — Girona to Girona, 156.6 km (97.3 mi)

Stage 3 result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) | AG2R La Mondiale | 3h 52' 37" |
| 2 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 3" |
| 3 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Cannondale–Garmin | + 3" |
| 4 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Tinkoff–Saxo | + 3" |
| 5 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | Astana | + 3" |
| 6 | Richie Porte (AUS) | Team Sky | + 3" |
| 7 | Andrew Talansky (USA) | Cannondale–Garmin | + 3" |
| 8 | Diego Rosa (ITA) | Astana | + 22" |
| 9 | Wilco Kelderman (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 22" |
| 10 | Alberto Losada (ESP) | Team Katusha | + 22" |
General classification after stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Pierre Rolland (FRA) | Team Europcar | 13h 29' 23" |
| 2 | Maciej Paterski (POL) | CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice | + 1' 08" |
| 3 | Bart De Clercq (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | + 1' 16" |
| 4 | Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 2' 14" |
| 5 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 2' 21" |
| 6 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Cannondale–Garmin | + 2' 22" |
| 7 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Tinkoff–Saxo | + 2' 27" |
| 8 | Richie Porte (AUS) | Team Sky | + 2' 27" |
| 9 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | Astana | + 2' 27" |
| 10 | Andrew Talansky (USA) | Cannondale–Garmin | + 2' 27" |

### Stage 4
#### 26 March 2015 — Tona to La Molina, 188.4 km (117.1 mi)

Stage 4 result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tejay van Garderen (USA) | BMC Racing Team | 5h 00' 36" |
| 2 | Richie Porte (AUS) | Team Sky | + 3" |
| 3 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Tinkoff–Saxo | + 8" |
| 4 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Cannondale–Garmin | + 8" |
| 5 | Wilco Kelderman (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 8" |
| 6 | Darwin Atapuma (COL) | BMC Racing Team | + 11" |
| 7 | Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 15" |
| 8 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 19" |
| 9 | Vasil Kiryienka (BLR) | Team Sky | + 21" |
| 10 | Rafael Valls (ESP) | Lampre–Merida | + 21" |
General classification after stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Bart De Clercq (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 18h 32' 02" |
| 2 | Richie Porte (AUS) | Team Sky | + 21" |
| 3 | Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 26" |
| 4 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Cannondale–Garmin | + 27" |
| 5 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Tinkoff–Saxo | + 28" |
| 6 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 45" |
| 7 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | Astana | + 48" |
| 8 | Wilco Kelderman (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 51" |
| 9 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 52" |
| 10 | Darwin Atapuma (COL) | BMC Racing Team | + 54" |

### Stage 5
#### 27 March 2015 — Alp to Valls, 195.4 km (121.4 mi)

Stage 5 result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 4h 25' 52" |
| 2 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 5" |
| 3 | Paolo Tiralongo (ITA) | Astana | + 5" |
| 4 | Richie Porte (AUS) | Team Sky | + 5" |
| 5 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | Astana | + 5" |
| 6 | Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 5" |
| 7 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Tinkoff–Saxo | + 5" |
| 8 | David López (ESP) | Team Sky | + 12" |
| 9 | Darwin Atapuma (COL) | BMC Racing Team | + 5" |
| 10 | Tejay van Garderen (USA) | BMC Racing Team | + 5" |
General classification after stage 5 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Richie Porte (AUS) | Team Sky | 22h 58' 20" |
| 2 | Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 5" |
| 3 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Tinkoff–Saxo | + 7" |
| 4 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 16" |
| 5 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 18" |
| 6 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | Astana | + 27" |
| 7 | Darwin Atapuma (COL) | BMC Racing Team | + 33" |
| 8 | Rafael Valls (ESP) | Lampre–Merida | + 43" |
| 9 | Wilco Kelderman (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 1' 09" |
| 10 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Cannondale–Garmin | + 1' 35" |

### Stage 6
#### 28 March 2015 — Cervera to PortAventura, 194.1 km (121 mi)

Stage 6 result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Sergey Chernetskiy (RUS) | Team Katusha | 4h 42' 47" |
| 2 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 0" |
| 3 | Maciej Paterski (POL) | CCC–Sprandi–Polkowice | + 0" |
| 4 | Marc Soler (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 0" |
| 5 | Jonathan Hivert (FRA) | Bretagne–Séché Environnement | + 0" |
| 6 | Tejay van Garderen (USA) | BMC Racing Team | + 0" |
| 7 | Georg Preidler (AUT) | Team Giant–Alpecin | + 0" |
| 8 | Rudy Molard (FRA) | Cofidis | + 0" |
| 9 | Tom Danielson (USA) | Cannondale–Garmin | + 3" |
| 10 | Carlos Verona (ESP) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 3" |
General classification after stage 6 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Richie Porte (AUS) | Team Sky | 27h 42' 57" |
| 2 | Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 5" |
| 3 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Tinkoff–Saxo | + 7" |
| 4 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 16" |
| 5 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 18" |
| 6 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | Astana | + 27" |
| 7 | Darwin Atapuma (COL) | BMC Racing Team | + 33" |
| 8 | Rafael Valls (ESP) | Lampre–Merida | + 43" |
| 9 | Wilco Kelderman (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 1' 09" |
| 10 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Cannondale–Garmin | + 1' 35" |

### Stage 7
#### 29 March 2015 — Barcelona to Barcelona, 126.6 km (79 mi)

Stage 7 result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 2h 47' 33" |
| 2 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | Team Europcar | + 0" |
| 3 | Sergey Chernetskiy (RUS) | Team Katusha | + 0" |
| 4 | Jarlinson Pantano (COL) | IAM Cycling | + 0" |
| 5 | Romain Hardy (FRA) | Cofidis | + 0" |
| 6 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 0" |
| 7 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 0" |
| 8 | Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 0" |
| 9 | Rafael Valls (ESP) | Lampre–Merida | + 0" |
| 10 | Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 0" |
Final general classification :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Richie Porte (AUS) | Team Sky | 30h 30' 30" |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 4" |
| 3 | Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA) | AG2R La Mondiale | + 5" |
| 4 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Tinkoff–Saxo | + 7" |
| 5 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 18" |
| 6 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | Astana | + 27" |
| 7 | Darwin Atapuma (COL) | BMC Racing Team | + 33" |
| 8 | Rafael Valls (ESP) | Lampre–Merida | + 43" |
| 9 | Wilco Kelderman (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 1' 09" |
| 10 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Cannondale–Garmin | + 1' 35" |

## Classification leadership table

In the 2015 Volta a Catalunya, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses in intermediate sprints (3, 2 and 1 seconds) and at the finish in mass-start stages (10, 6 and 4 seconds respectively for the first three finishers), the leader received a white and green jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the 2015 Volta a Catalunya, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.
Additionally, there was a sprints classification, which awarded a white jersey. In the sprints classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 3 at intermediate sprint points during each stage; these intermediate sprints also offered bonus seconds towards the general classification. There was also a mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a red jersey. In the mountains classification, points were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists, with more points available for the higher-categorised climbs.
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 | Maciej Paterski | Maciej Paterski | Maciej Paterski | Martijn Keizer | Carlos Barbero | Team Europcar |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde | Maciej Paterski | Maciej Paterski | Lluís Mas | Wilco Kelderman | Team Europcar |
| 3 | Domenico Pozzovivo | Pierre Rolland | Maciej Paterski | Lluís Mas | Wilco Kelderman | Team Europcar |
| 4 | Tejay van Garderen | Bart De Clercq | Tom Danielson | Lluís Mas | Wilco Kelderman | Team Sky |
| 5 | Alejandro Valverde | Richie Porte | Tom Danielson | Lluís Mas | Wilco Kelderman | Team Sky |
| 6 | Sergey Chernetskiy | Richie Porte | Tom Danielson | Lluís Mas | Wilco Kelderman | BMC Racing Team |
| 7 | Alejandro Valverde | Richie Porte | Tom Danielson | Lluís Mas | Wilco Kelderman | BMC Racing Team |
| Final | Final | Richie Porte | Tom Danielson | Lluís Mas | Wilco Kelderman | BMC Racing Team |