# 2011 Volta a Catalunya

The 2011 Volta a Catalunya was the 91st running of the Volta a Catalunya cycling stage race. It started on 21 March in Lloret de Mar and ended on 27 March in Barcelona, and consisted on seven stages. It was the fifth race of the 2011 UCI World Tour season.
The race was won by Saxo Bank–SunGard rider Alberto Contador, who claimed the leader's white with green-striped jersey with a stage win on stage three, maintaining his advantage until the end of the race. Contador's winning margin over runner-up Michele Scarponi (Lampre–ISD) was 23 seconds, and Garmin–Cervélo's Dan Martin completed the podium, 35 seconds down on Contador. Martin made the podium at the expense of Team RadioShack rider Levi Leipheimer, who pulled out of the race before the final stage.
In the race's other classifications, Euskaltel–Euskadi's Rubén Pérez took home the white jersey for amassing the highest number of points during stages at intermediate sprints, Colombia es Pasión–Café de Colombia rider Nairo Quintana won the King of the Mountains classification, with Team RadioShack finishing at the head of the teams classification.

## Teams

24 teams were invited to the 2011 Volta a Catalunya. The teams were:
* Ag2r–La Mondiale
* Andalucía–Caja Granada
* Astana
* BMC Racing Team
* Caja Rural
* CCC–Polsat–Polkowice
* Cofidis
* Colombia es Pasión–Café de Colombia
* Euskaltel–Euskadi
* Garmin–Cervélo
* Geox–TMC
* HTC–Highroad
* Lampre–ISD
* Leopard Trek
* Liquigas–Cannondale
* Omega Pharma–Lotto
* Quick-Step
* Rabobank
* Movistar Team
* Team Katusha
* Team RadioShack
* Saxo Bank–SunGard
* Team Sky
* Vacansoleil–DCM

## Route

Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 21 March | Lloret de Mar to Lloret de Mar | 166.9 km (103.7 mi) | | Gatis Smukulis (LAT) |
| 2 | 22 March | Santa Coloma de Farners to Banyoles | 169.3 km (105.2 mi) | | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) |
| 3 | 23 March | La Vall d'en Bas to Vallnord | 183.9 km (114.3 mi) | Mountain stage | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
| 4 | 24 March | La Seu d'Urgell to El Vendrell | 195 km (121.2 mi) | | Manuel Antonio Cardoso (POR) |
| 5 | 25 March | El Vendrell to Tarragona | 213.5 km (132.7 mi) | | Samuel Dumoulin (FRA) |
| 6 | 26 March | Tarragona to Mollet del Vallès | 195 km (121.2 mi) | | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) |
| 7 | 27 March | Parets del Vallès to Barcelona | 124.5 km (77.4 mi) | | Samuel Dumoulin (FRA) |

## Stages
### Stage 1
#### 21 March 2011 – Lloret de Mar to Lloret de Mar, 166.9 km (103.7 mi)

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Gatis Smukulis (LAT) | HTC–Highroad | 4h 08' 48" |
| 2 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | Lampre–ISD | + 28" |
| 3 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 28" |
| 4 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Team Sky | + 28" |
| 5 | Jan Bakelants (BEL) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 28" |
| 6 | Maxime Bouet (FRA) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | + 28" |
| 7 | Paolo Tiralongo (ITA) | Astana | + 28" |
| 8 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 28" |
| 9 | Bauke Mollema (NED) | Rabobank | + 28" |
| 10 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Saxo Bank–SunGard | + 28" |
| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Gatis Smukulis (LAT) | HTC–Highroad | 4h 08' 48" |
| 2 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | Lampre–ISD | + 28" |
| 3 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 28" |
| 4 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Team Sky | + 28" |
| 5 | Jan Bakelants (BEL) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 28" |
| 6 | Maxime Bouet (FRA) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | + 28" |
| 7 | Paolo Tiralongo (ITA) | Astana | + 28" |
| 8 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 28" |
| 9 | Bauke Mollema (NED) | Rabobank | + 28" |
| 10 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Saxo Bank–SunGard | + 28" |

### Stage 2
#### 22 March 2011 – Santa Coloma de Farners to Banyoles, 169.3 km (105.2 mi)

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | Lampre–ISD | 4h 11' 08" |
| 2 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | s.t. |
| 3 | Manuel Antonio Cardoso (POR) | Team RadioShack | s.t. |
| 4 | Samuel Dumoulin (FRA) | Cofidis | s.t. |
| 5 | Aitor Galdós (ESP) | Caja Rural | s.t. |
| 6 | Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) | Leopard Trek | s.t. |
| 7 | Michel Kreder (NED) | Garmin–Cervélo | s.t. |
| 8 | Thomas Peterson (USA) | Garmin–Cervélo | s.t. |
| 9 | Valentin Iglinsky (KAZ) | Astana | s.t. |
| 10 | Carlos Barredo (ESP) | Rabobank | s.t. |
| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Gatis Smukulis (LAT) | HTC–Highroad | 8h 19' 56" |
| 2 | Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) | Lampre–ISD | + 28" |
| 3 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 28" |
| 4 | Jan Bakelants (BEL) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 28" |
| 5 | Thomas Peterson (USA) | Garmin–Cervélo | + 28" |
| 6 | Carlos Barredo (ESP) | Rabobank | + 28" |
| 7 | Dario Cataldo (ITA) | Quick-Step | + 28" |
| 8 | Jelle Vanendert (BEL) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | + 28" |
| 9 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Saxo Bank–SunGard | + 28" |
| 10 | Bauke Mollema (NED) | Rabobank | + 28" |

### Stage 3
#### 23 March 2011 – La Vall d'en Bas to Vallnord, 183.9 km (114.3 mi)

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Saxo Bank–SunGard | 4h 45' 31" |
| 2 | Michele Scarponi (ITA) | Lampre–ISD | + 23" |
| 3 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 23" |
| 4 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Cervélo | + 35" |
| 5 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 35" |
| 6 | Alex Caño (COL) | Colombia es Pasión–Café de Colombia | + 35" |
| 7 | Ivan Basso (ITA) | Liquigas–Cannondale | + 38" |
| 8 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Team Sky | + 38" |
| 9 | Xavier Tondó (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 38" |
| 10 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 50" |
| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Saxo Bank–SunGard | 13h 05' 55" |
| 2 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 23" |
| 3 | Michele Scarponi (ITA) | Lampre–ISD | + 23" |
| 4 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Cervélo | + 35" |
| 5 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 35" |
| 6 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Team Sky | + 38" |
| 7 | Ivan Basso (ITA) | Liquigas–Cannondale | + 38" |
| 8 | Xavier Tondó (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 38" |
| 9 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 50" |
| 10 | Bauke Mollema (NED) | Rabobank | + 1' 12" |

### Stage 4
#### 24 March 2011 – La Seu d'Urgell to El Vendrell, 195 km (121.2 mi)

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Manuel Antonio Cardoso (POR) | Team RadioShack | 4h 33' 02" |
| 2 | Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) | Leopard Trek | s.t. |
| 3 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | s.t. |
| 4 | Aitor Galdós (ESP) | Caja Rural | s.t. |
| 5 | František Raboň (CZE) | HTC–Highroad | s.t. |
| 6 | Samuel Dumoulin (FRA) | Cofidis | s.t. |
| 7 | Will Clarke (AUS) | Leopard Trek | s.t. |
| 8 | Michel Kreder (NED) | Garmin–Cervélo | s.t. |
| 9 | Michał Gołaś (POL) | Vacansoleil–DCM | s.t. |
| 10 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Cervélo | s.t. |
| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Saxo Bank–SunGard | 17h 38' 57" |
| 2 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 23" |
| 3 | Michele Scarponi (ITA) | Lampre–ISD | + 23" |
| 4 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Cervélo | + 35" |
| 5 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 35" |
| 6 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Team Sky | + 38" |
| 7 | Ivan Basso (ITA) | Liquigas–Cannondale | + 38" |
| 8 | Xavier Tondó (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 38" |
| 9 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 50" |
| 10 | Bauke Mollema (NED) | Rabobank | + 1' 12" |

### Stage 5
#### 25 March 2011 – El Vendrell to Tarragona, 213.5 km (132.7 mi)

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Samuel Dumoulin (FRA) | Cofidis | 4h 49' 31" |
| 2 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | s.t. |
| 3 | Rubén Pérez (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | s.t. |
| 4 | Aitor Galdós (ESP) | Caja Rural | s.t. |
| 5 | Michał Gołaś (POL) | Vacansoleil–DCM | s.t. |
| 6 | Diego Milán (ESP) | Caja Rural | s.t. |
| 7 | Nicolas Roche (IRL) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | s.t. |
| 8 | Manuel Antonio Cardoso (POR) | Team RadioShack | s.t. |
| 9 | Kenny Dehaes (BEL) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | s.t. |
| 10 | František Raboň (CZE) | HTC–Highroad | s.t. |
| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Saxo Bank–SunGard | 22h 28' 28" |
| 2 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 23" |
| 3 | Michele Scarponi (ITA) | Lampre–ISD | + 23" |
| 4 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Cervélo | + 35" |
| 5 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 35" |
| 6 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Team Sky | + 38" |
| 7 | Ivan Basso (ITA) | Liquigas–Cannondale | + 38" |
| 8 | Xavier Tondó (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 38" |
| 9 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 50" |
| 10 | Bauke Mollema (NED) | Rabobank | + 1' 12" |

### Stage 6
#### 26 March 2011 – Tarragona to Mollet del Vallès, 189.5 km (117.7 mi)

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | 4h 22' 19" |
| 2 | Manuel Antonio Cardoso (POR) | Team RadioShack | s.t. |
| 3 | Samuel Dumoulin (FRA) | Cofidis | s.t. |
| 4 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Cervélo | s.t. |
| 5 | Diego Milán (ESP) | Caja Rural | s.t. |
| 6 | Daniele Pietropolli (ITA) | Lampre–ISD | s.t. |
| 7 | Rubén Pérez (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | s.t. |
| 8 | Kenny Dehaes (BEL) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | s.t. |
| 9 | Rémi Cusin (FRA) | Cofidis | s.t. |
| 10 | Michał Gołaś (POL) | Vacansoleil–DCM | s.t. |
| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Saxo Bank–SunGard | 26h 50' 47" |
| 2 | Levi Leipheimer (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 23" |
| 3 | Michele Scarponi (ITA) | Lampre–ISD | + 23" |
| 4 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Cervélo | + 35" |
| 5 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 35" |
| 6 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Team Sky | + 38" |
| 7 | Ivan Basso (ITA) | Liquigas–Cannondale | + 38" |
| 8 | Xavier Tondó (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 38" |
| 9 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 50" |
| 10 | Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL) | Quick-Step | + 1' 12" |

### Stage 7
#### 27 March 2011 – Parets del Vallès to Barcelona, 124.5 km (77.4 mi)

| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Samuel Dumoulin (FRA) | Cofidis | 2h 33' 55" |
| 2 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Team Sky | s.t. |
| 3 | Kenny Dehaes (BEL) | Omega Pharma–Lotto | s.t. |
| 4 | José Joaquín Rojas (ESP) | Movistar Team | s.t. |
| 5 | Manuel Antonio Cardoso (POR) | Team RadioShack | s.t. |
| 6 | Aitor Galdós (ESP) | Caja Rural | s.t. |
| 7 | Michał Gołaś (POL) | Vacansoleil–DCM | s.t. |
| 8 | Blel Kadri (FRA) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | s.t. |
| 9 | Ivan Rovny (RUS) | Team RadioShack | s.t. |
| 10 | Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL) | Quick-Step | s.t. |
| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Michele Scarponi (ITA) | Lampre–ISD | 29h 25' 05" |
| 2 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Cervélo | + 12" |
| 3 | Chris Horner (USA) | Team RadioShack | + 12" |
| 4 | Rigoberto Urán (COL) | Team Sky | + 15" |
| 5 | Xavier Tondó (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 15" |
| 6 | Ivan Basso (ITA) | Liquigas–Cannondale | + 15" |
| 7 | Cadel Evans (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | + 27" |
| 8 | Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL) | Quick-Step | + 49" |
| 9 | Bauke Mollema (NED) | Rabobank | + 49" |
| 10 | Blel Kadri (FRA) | Ag2r–La Mondiale | + 49" |

## Classification leadership

In the 2011 Volta a Catalunya, three different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding the finishing times of the stages per cyclist, the leader received a white jersey with green stripes on the sleeves, midsection, and collar. This classification was considered the most important of the Volta a Catalunya, and the winner of the general classification was considered the winner of the Volta a Catalunya.
Additionally, there was also a sprint classification, indicated with a white jersey. In the sprint classification, cyclists received points for being one of the first three in intermediate sprints, with three points awarded for first place, two for second, and one for third.
There was also a mountains classification, indicated with a red jersey. In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a mountain before other cyclists. All climbs were categorized, hors-, first, second, or third-category, with more points available for the higher-categorized climbs.
| Stage | Winner | General Classification | Mountains Classification | Sprint Classification | Team Classification |
| 1 | Gatis Smukulis | Gatis Smukulis | Gatis Smukulis | Ben Gastauer | HTC–Highroad |
| 2 | Alessandro Petacchi | Gatis Smukulis | Julián Sánchez | Rubén Pérez | HTC–Highroad |
| 3 | Michele Scarponi | Levi Leipheimer | Michele Scarponi | José Vicente Toribio | Team RadioShack |
| 4 | Manuel Antonio Cardoso | Levi Leipheimer | Michele Scarponi | Rubén Pérez | Team RadioShack |
| 5 | Samuel Dumoulin | Levi Leipheimer | Nairo Quintana | Rubén Pérez | Team RadioShack |
| 6 | José Joaquín Rojas | Levi Leipheimer | Nairo Quintana | Rubén Pérez | Team RadioShack |
| 7 | Samuel Dumoulin | Michele Scarponi | Nairo Quintana | Rubén Pérez | Team RadioShack |
| Final | Final | Michele Scarponi | Nairo Quintana | Rubén Pérez | Team RadioShack |