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Volta a Catalunya Photos Mar 21 - 27

« Volta a Catalunya 2011 Live Dashboard


Stage 1:  Lloret de Mar → Lloret de Mar, 167 km  Full Results and Report

Alberto Contador acknowledging the Spanish fans in Lloret de Mar prior to the start of the 100th Volta a Catalunya, one of the three oldest stage races in cycling. Contador announced he will race the upcoming Fleche Wallonne which will be his first race outside of Spain since his suspension was lifted in February

Lone break survivor, Gatis Smukulis of HTC-Highroad hangs on to win stage 1 by 28s ahead of the charging field in Lloret de Mar.

The 23 year old Latvian celebrating his first pro win

In addition to the winner's hardware, Smukulis also gets the leader's (and young rider's) jersey for winning the first day. There are no time bonuses at this race so he'll take a 28s lead over the big names into stage 2

Stage 2:  Santa Coloma de Farners → Banyoles, 169 km  Full Results and Report


Lampre keeping the race in check on the Banyoles circuits

A close sprint finish numerous laps around Banyoles

Lampre's hard work at the front of the race was rewarded with a win by Alessandro Petacchi, his first of the year. Joaquín Rojas (Movistar) was 2nd and RadioShack's Manuel Cardoso, right, was third

Petacchi normally gets his first win of the year well before this point in the season. He seems to have recovered from bronchitis that plagued him in January and February.

Stage 3:   La Vall d’en Bas → Vallnord (AD), 184 km  Full Results and Report


Stage 3 finishing climb panoramic in Andorra with 150m to go

He said the final climb wasn't hard enough, but Alberto Contador is off the front

Dancing through the snow

Lampre's Michele Scarponi finished second today (+ 0:23)

With a looming UCI appeal, Alberto Contador puts his troubles behind him (at least for today) and takes the Queen Stage of this year's Volta a Catalunya

Winks for his teammates

Gatis Smukulis finished almost 17 minutes back, so Alberto Contador easily moves into the lead. MORE PHOTOS TO COME...

Stage 4:  La Seu d’Urgell → El Vendrell, 195 km  Full Results and Report


Garmin's Christian Vandevelde looking casual before the stage 4 start in La Vall d’en Bas. He's one of the many rider's that has a home in Girona so he knows these roads well

Lampre's Michele Scarponi is on great form right now... He was 2nd on the Queen Stage and is tied for second on GC

Levi Leipheimer being interviewed in Spanish. He said "I went with the first Contador attack then he went again, and we were all dead!"

Levi sits tied for 2nd on GC going into the final three days

Ivan Basso was somewhat disappointed with his 7th place finish on the Queen Stage because he said he had come here to win

The Jersey Leaders going into Stage 4

Manuel Cardoso (RadioShack) wins the bunch sprint in El Vendrell ahead of 2nd Giacomo Nizzolo (right, Leopard-Trek) and Joaquín Rojas (behind, Movistar)

The Spanish media has shown up! According to Spanish media, the big cycling news of the week was the Alberto Contador post stage 4 press conference where he answered questions about the UCI appeal against the Spanish federation's decision to exonerate him

Stage 5:  El Vendrell → Tarragona, 206 km  Full Results and Report


Movistar and Saxo Bank at the front through the streets in Falset working to bring the break back

Quickstep rider Jan Tratnik getting some iodine applied after a crash involving several riders

Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) and Joaquín Rojas (Movistar) fighting it out on the bump at the finish

Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) wins the slight uphill finish in Tarragona ahead of Joaquín Rojas (Movistar) and Rubén Pérez (Euskaltel-Euskadi). Rojas now has two 2nd place and two 3rd place finishes this week.

Little Sammy picked up some fine hardware today

No change on GC today; Alberto Contador gives his team some applause

Stage 6:  Tarragona → Mollet del Vallès, 185 km  Full Results and Report


What was Manuel Cardoso (RadioShack) thinking? José Joaquín Rojas (Movistar) finishes a close sprint the way it should be. Yesterday's winner, Samuel Dumoulin (right, Cofidis) was 3rd

After two 2nd place and two 3rd place finishes this week, José Joaquín Rojas (Movistar) gets a win

Barring a mishap, Alberto Contador will also be tossing flowers to the crowd after the final stage on Sunday

Stage 7:  Parets del Vallès → Barcelona (Pla de Palau)  Full Results and Report


The peloton on the circuits in Barcelona riding past a tall statute of Christopher Columbus

And one final sprint finish at Volta a Catalunya: Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) wins his second stage ahead of Rigoberto Uran Uran (Sky) and Kenny De Haes (Omega Pharma-Lotto)

Your overall winner, Alberto Contador, only needed to fully exert himself for one of the seven stages since most ended in field sprints