Volta a Catalunya

Omega Pharma rider takes win as split gives the GC an early kick

Check out Matt De Neef's author page.

The Catalan tour is over home roads of sorts for the three, who have their European base in Girona

Wiggins, Hesjedal to test themselves ahead of Giro as Vande Velde, Danielson and Zabriskie return from suspension

Check out CyclingTips's author page.

Christian Vande Velde speaks about his pending return to racing with ESPN's Bonnie D. Ford

In the wake of bad weather forcing the cancellation of two races this weekend, here's a look at cycling's on/off relationship with Mother Nature

1. Michael ALBASINI, GreenEdge in 24:15:45 2. Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi +1:30 3. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, Lotto-Belisol +1:32

Cynics may want to put an asterisk next to Alabasini's win due to weather-related changes

Swiss rider seals overall win after taking opening two stages

Olympic champ wins solo as Albasini defends his GC lead

Saur-Sojasun's Simon wins fifth stage in Catalunya, Urán second

Broken femur dashes Julian Dean's Olympic hopes, Jacob Fuglsang breaks wrist and Ivan Basso bashes knee in extreme weather in Spain.

Colombian storms across late breakaway for stage win

Kiwi hit parked car early during brutal day in Spain

Officials may allow drop-outs to start Thursday after harrowing day

Astana rider wins third stage while snow falls at planned finish, while officials cancel GC

Spaniard abandons following crash in Tuesday's second stage in Catalunya

Stage 2 of the 2012 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, through the lens of Graham Watson

GreenEdge Swiss wins stage 2 to confirm overall lead

Stage 1 of the 2012 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, through the lens of Graham Watson

Swiss rider wins Catalan opener from long breakaway

Scores of results sheets will be adjusted following the CAS ruling

Check out Brian Holcombe's author page.

An old injury keeps Levi Leipheimer from starting the final stage at the Volta a Catalunya.

Brent Bookwalter breaks a collarbone in Sunday’s finale at the Volta a Catalunya.

Stage 7: Parets del Valles-Barcelona (124.5 km)

• 1. Samuel Dumoulin (FRA), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, 2:33:55
• 2. Rigoberto Uran Uran (COL), Sky, s.t.
• 3. Kenny De Haes (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, s.t.
• 4. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (ESP), Movistar, s.t.
• 5. Antonio Leal Cardoso Manuel (POR), Radioshack, s.t.

Final Overall Standings

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco (ESP), Saxo Bank-Sungard, 29:24:42
• 2. Michele Scarponi (ITA), Lampre-ISD, at 0:23
• 3. Daniel Martin (IRL), Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:35
• 4. Christopher Horner (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:35
• 5. Rigoberto Uran Uran (COL), Sky, at 0:38

Saxo Bank-Sunguard’s Alberto Contador won the Tour of Catalonia on Sunday after the seventh and final stage. Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) won the stage, a 124.5km ride from Parets del Valles to Barcelona, for his second win of the race.

Stage 6

• 1. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Esp), Movistar, 4:22:19
• 2. Manuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por), Team Radioshack, s.t.
• 3. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, s.t.
• 4. Daniel Martin (Irl), Garmin-Cervelo, s.t.
• 5. Diego Milan Jimenez (Esp), Caja Rural, s.t.

Overall standings

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp), Saxobank-Sungard, 26:50:47
• 2. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:23
• 3. Michele Scarponi (Ita), Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 0:23
• 4. Daniel Martin (Irl), Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:35
• 5. Christopher Horner (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:35

José Joaquín Rojas finds that elusive win at the Tour of Catalunya.

Stage 5

• 1. Samuel Dumoulin (FRA), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, 4:49:31
• 2. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (ESP), Movistar, s.t.
• 3. Ruben Perez Moreno (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi, s.t.
• 4. Aitor Galdos Alonso (ESP), Caja Rural, s.t.
• 5. Michal Golas (POL), Vacansoleil-DCM, s.t.

Overall Standings

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco (ESP), Saxo Bank Sungard, 22:28:28
• 2. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Radioshack, at 23
• 3. Michele Scarponi (ITA), Lampre-ISD, at 23
• 4. Daniel Martin (IRL), Garmin-Cervelo, at 35
• 5. Christopher Horner (USA), Radioshack, at 35

VeloNews' European correspondent Andrew Hood checks in with Garmin's Tom Danielson at the Tour of Catalunya

L VENDRELL, Spain (VN) – Alberto Contador vows to finish the Volta a Catalunya and will keep racing despite the UCI’s decision to appeal his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

VeloNews European correspondent Andrew Hood checked in with Team RadioShack's Chris Horner at the Tour of Catalunya this week.

Stage 4: La Seu d'Urgell - El Vendrell (195 km)

• 1. Antonio Leal Cardoso Manuel (POR), Team Radioshack, 4:33:02
• 2. Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA), Leopard Trek, at 0
• 3. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (ESP), Movistar Team, at 0
• 4. Aitor Galdos Alonso (ESP), Caja Rural, at 0
• 5. Frantisek Rabon (CZE), HTC-Highroad, at 0

Overall Standings

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco (ESP), Saxo Bank Sungard, 17:38:57
• 2. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team Radioshack, at 23
• 3. Michele Scarponi (ITA), Lampre-ISD, at 23
• 4. Daniel Martin (IRL), Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 35
• 5. Christopher Horner (USA), Team Radioshack, at 35

Continued pain in his left knee forced Taylor Phinney (BMC) to abandon his first WorldTour race Wednesday, midway through the third stage of the Tour of Catalunya.

Stage 3: La Vall d'en Bas - Vallnord (183.9 km)

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco, (ESP), Saxo Bank Sungard, 4:45:31
• 2. Michele Scarponi, (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 0:23
• 3. Levi Leipheimer, (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:23
• 4. Daniel Martin, (IRL), Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:35
• 5. Christopher Horner, (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:35

Overall Standings

• 1. Alberto Contador Velasco, (ESP), Saxo Bank Sungard, 13:05:55
• 2. Levi Leipheimer, (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:23
• 3. Michele Scarponi, (ITA), Lampre-Isd, at 0:23
• 4. Daniel Martin, (IRL), Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:35
• 5. Christopher Horner, (USA), Team Radioshack, at 0:35

BANYOLES, Spain (VN) – Gatis Smukulis slipped back into the peloton in Wednesday’s big climbing stage at the Volta a Catalunya, but a big stage win and two days in the leader’s jersey put the relatively unknown Latvian firmly in the spotlight.

With his sporting career in the hands of lawyers and bureaucrats, Alberto Contador did the only thing that he could do: attack with his legs.

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) said Wednesday's five-climb stage into Andorra at the Volta a Catalunya isn't hard enough to completely break open the race.

BANYOLES, Spain (VN) – Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) kicked to a morale-boosting victory in Tuesday’s 168km second stage at the Volta a Catalunya (Tour of Catalunya) for his first win of the 2011 season.

Stage 2

• 1. Alessandro PETACCHI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, in 4:11:08
• 2. Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, (ESP) Movistar, at 0
• 3. Manuel Antonio Leal CARDOSO, (POR) Team RadioShack, at 0
• 4. Nicolas EDET, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0
• 5. Aitor GALDOS ALONSO, (ESP) Caja Rural, at 0

GC

• 1. Gatis SMUKULIS, (Latvia) HTC-Highroad, in 8:19:56
• 2. Alessandro PETACCHI, (Italy) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 28
• 3. Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, (Spain) Movistar, at 28
• 4. Jan BAKELANDTS, (Belgium) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 28
• 5. Thomas PETERSON, (United States) Garmin-Cervelo, at 28

BANYOLES, Spain (VN) — It’s coming down to the wire on whether or not the UCI will decide to appeal the Spanish federation’s decision to clear Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) on doping charges in his long-running clenbuterol case.

LLORET DE MAR, Spain (VN) – Taylor Phinney (BMC) made it through his European season debut in a tough stage at the Volta a Catalunya (Tour of Catalonia) that saw him dropped on the second of two first-category climbs.

MADRID (AFP) - Latvia's Gatis Smukulis of HTC-Highroad won the first stage of the Tour of Catalonia, a 166.9-kilometre (103.5-mile) ride that started and ended in Lloret de Mar on Monday.

Stage 1

• 1. Gatis SMUKULIS, (LAT) HTC-Highroad, in 4:08:48
• 2. Alessandro PETACCHI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 28
• 3. Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, (ESP) Movistar, at 28
• 4. Rigoberto URAN URAN, (COL) Team Sky, at 28
• 5. Jan BAKELANDTS, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 28

GC

• 1. Gatis SMUKULIS, (LAT) HTC-Highroad, in 4:08:48
• 2. Alessandro PETACCHI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 28
• 3. Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, (ESP) Movistar, at 28
• 4. Rigoberto URAN URAN, (COL) Team Sky, at 28
• 5. Jan BAKELANDTS, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 28

Alberto Contador says he's motivated for the weeklong Tour of Catalunya, but he doesn't expect to have it easy in Spain's oldest stage race.

Team RadioShack on Friday announced its team for next week's Volta a Catalunya (Tour of Catalonia).

Cadel Evans (BMC), hot off his overall victory at Tirreno-Adriatico, carries hopes of a strong GC performance into next week’s Volta a Catalunya, where he will have the support of American Taylor Phinney.

Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) will not line up Monday to defend his title at the Volta a Catalunya due to a nagging leg injury.

Taylor Phinney (BMC) says he’s still hopeful he’ll be able to race the upcoming northern classics despite sitting on the sidelines so far through much of the 2011 season due to a nagging knee injury and a mild concussion.

Chris Horner is making a later-than-usual start to the 2011 season, but plans to come out guns-a-blazin’ with a season debut next week at the Volta a Catalunya (March 21-27) in Spain.

Leopard-Trek has announced the signing of Austrian rider Thomas Rohregger, who last rode for Milram.

Carlos Sastre (Geox-TMC) will make his season debut at the Vuelta a Murcia in March.

Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) wins the 90th Tour of Catalonia.

France's Samuel Dumoulin of the Cofidis team won the sixth stage of the Tour of Catalonia, a 161.9km run between el Vendrell and Barcelona in north-eastern Spain on Saturday.

Davide Malacarne (QuickStep) won the fifth stage of the Tour of Catalonia, a 181.2-kilometer race from Asco to Cabaces in northeastern Spain on Friday.

Saxo Bank's Jens Voigt won the fourth stage of the Tour of Catalonia on Thursday, a 210-kilometer state from Oliana to Asco in northeastern Spain.

Spain's Xavier Tondo (Cervelo TestTeam) won Wednesday's third stage of the Tour of Catalonia, a 185.9-kilometre run from La Vall d'En Bas to La Seu d'Urgell in northeastern Spain.

Graham Watson's gallery from stage 2 of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.

HTC-Columbia speedster Mark Cavendish sprints to victory in stage 2 of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.

2010 Tour of Catalonia galleries

Andrew Hood takes a look at what's sure to be one of the busiest weeks of the year.

2010 Tour of Catalonia gallery

Milram's Paul Voss won Monday's prologue at the Tour of Catalonia, beating RadioShack's Levi Leipheimer by one second over the 3.6-kilometer course. RadioShack's Andreas Kloeden was third, another second back.

2010 Tour of Catalonia results

Alberto Contador is skipping the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya in favor of the Critérium International — where Lance Armstrong is also slated to race.

The Volta a Catalunya is one of the oldest stage races on the international calendar.

Norway's Thor Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam) won the first stage of Spain's Tour of Catalonia, a 3.6 kilometer time trial in Lloret de Mar on Monday. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) was second while New Zealand's Greg Henderson (Columbia-Highroad) was third. The second stage on Tuesday will consist of a 163.1-kilometer ride between Girona and Roses. The Tour of Catalonia, the third oldest cycling stage race in the world after the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia, will finish on May 24 in Montmelo.