Contador’s fellow Spaniard Alejandro Valverde leads a strong Movistar lineup while 2013 champion Dan Martin will look for Cannondale-Garmin’s first success of the season.
Route
Catalunya’s mountainous surroundings should provide the perfect battlegrounds for Froome, Contador and co in the tussle for the general classification.
Stage three will see many of the riding around their own back yards as the race hits Girona – a place many cyclists call home during the season.
The following day could see the title decided as the race heads to a summit finish in La Molina following a gruelling climb up Alt de la Creueta.
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Stage seven sees the racing head to Barcelona, finishing with eight circuits of the category three climb of Alt de Montjuîc.
Contenders
Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver and Tejay van Garderen on the podium after Stage seven of the 2014 Tour of Catalonia (Watson)
(Image credit: Watson)
While Froome, Contador and Valverde will take most of the headlines going into the race, the Volta a Catalunya often throws up some surprise winners.
Rodriguez topped the list in both 2010 and 2014, but the race has also been won by Michael Albasini (2012) and Michele Scarponi (2011) in recent years.
Cannondale-Garmin have sent a strong team to support Martin, with former Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal and reigning Criterium du Dauphiné champion Andrew Talansky in their ranks.
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
