Volta a Catalunya 2023 Route stage 3: Olost

Volta a Catalunya 2023 Route stage 3: Olost - La Molina

Wednesday 22 March - Three days of action and two summit finishes. Welcome in la Volta a Catalunya! At 180.6 kilometres, the 3rd stage travels from Olost to La Molina. The finish climb is 12.1 kilometres long and averages 4.3%, while the elevation gain adds up to almost 4,000 metres.

La Molina has been a staple finish in the period 2014-2019 – with Miguel Ángel López (2019), Alejandro Valverde (2018, 2017), Dan Martin (2016), Tejay van Garderen (2015) and Joaquim Rodríguez (2014) takings the spoils -, and it returned last year. Which inspired Ben O’Connor to attack early on the climb and solo to triumph. The Australian crossed the line 6 seconds before the GC group, where Juan Ayuso and Nairo Quintana sprinted to second and third place.

The ascent to La Molina is not the hardest climb in the world. On the contrary. The first part is 9 kilometres long and averages 6%. Following a passage in La Molina the route continues with a short drop before the last 2 kilometres go up at 4%. From base to finish the climb totals 12.1 kilometres and averages 4.3%.

The finish climb may in itself be not very demanding, but the preceding amount of climbing will make it harder. The first half of the race serves a series of unclassified hills before the second half adds a number of big climbs to the mix.

The Coll de Coubet is 9.2 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 5.5%. The riders plunge down to Ripoll before entering a false flat to the foot of the Port de la Creueta. Arguably, the Creueta is the hardest climb of the day – 19.9 kilometres long and with an average gradient of 4.7%. Which sounds not too bad, but that statistic is biased by a descent between kilometre 5 and 7, so the rest of the climb is steeper.

The Port de la Creueta peaks out at almost 2,000 metres. Let’s hope snow and cold will not hinder the race, as the high mountains easily turn into a grim and unwelcoming place this early in the season.

On descent the riders move through La Molina for the first time. They turn right to continue downhill to Alp before the finish climb begins.

The first three riders on the line gain time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while intermediate sprints come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 3 Volta 2023.

Another interesting read: results 3rd stage 2023 Volta a Catalunya.