For the second year in a row, and for the third time in his career, the race was won byMovistar Team riderAlejandro Valverde.[4] 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,[1] team-mateNairo Quintana, after Quintana's Colombian compatriotEgan Bernal (Team Sky) crashed out of the race on the final day. The podium was completed byAG2R La Mondiale'sPierre Latour, a further 18 seconds in arrears of Quintana; Bernal's withdrawal also allowed Latour to claim the young rider classification.[1] The other jersey on offer for the sprints classification was claimed byLluís Mas (Caja Rural–Seguros RGA),[1] while the Movistar Team won the teams classification, after placing a third rider –Marc Soler – in the top-five overall.[1]
Before the start of the last stage, the women'sreVolta was organised for the first time.
As the Volta a Catalunya was aUCI World Tour event, all eighteenUCI WorldTeams were invited automatically and obliged to enter a team in the race. Seven UCI Professional Continental teams competed, completing the 25-team peloton.[5][6] Two of the Professional Continental teams,Burgos BH andEuskadi–Murias, made their début at UCI World Tour level.
The full route of the 2018 Volta a Catalunya was announced on 12 March 2018.[7]
The third stage, initially due to be held over 199.2 km (124 mi) betweenSant Cugat del Vallès andVallter 2000–Setcases, was shortened due to the threat of poor weather conditions.[8] As a result, the stage was shortened to 153.2 km (95 mi), and the stage finish was moved toCamprodon.[9] The sixth stage, initially due to be held over 194.2 km (121 mi) betweenVielha–Val d'Aran andTorrefarrera, was shortened due to heavy snow in the start location.[10] As a result, the stage was shortened to 117 km (73 mi), and the stage start was moved toLa Pobla de Segur.[11]
In the 2018 Volta a Catalunya, four different jerseys were awarded. Thegeneral 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.[34] 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 forSpecial
26
20
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
Points forCategory 1
10
8
6
4
2
1
0
Points forCategory 2
5
3
2
1
0
Points forCategory 3
3
2
1
0
The second classification was thesprints classification, the leader of which was awarded a white and orange jersey.[34] In the sprints classification, riders received points for finishing in the top three at intermediate sprint points during each stage. There was also amountains 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.[34] Double points were also scheduled to be awarded at the summit finishes atVallter 2000–Setcases (special-category) andLa Molina (first-category),[34] however the Vallter 2000–Setcases finish was removed due to the threat of poor weather.[8]
The fourth jersey represented the young rider classification, marked by a white and blue jersey.[34] 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.[34] 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.[34]
Álvaro Hodeg (COL)
Alejandro Valverde (ESP)
Thomas De Gendt (BEL)
Maximilian Schachmann (GER)
Simon Yates (GBR)
