Volta A La Comunitat Valenciana 2022 - Preview

The first showdown of climbers happen this week near Valencia, where the presitigious 5-stage race will happen from tomorrow until Sunday.

Last year, it was FDJ's TT specialist, Stefan Kueng, who won this race, but back in 2021, it contained less climbing and a 14-kilometre time trial, where huge gaps were gained on climbers like Mas or Victor Lafay. This year, the race is hard. Stage 1 and especially stage 3 will be really selective, Antenas del Maigmó is the first real test for climbers, steep average, gravel section in the end, it is gonna be extremely spicy.

Favourites:

Alexander Vlasov - new signing of Bora, and had a very promising start of the season. Third in Andratx, which had a steep short finish, didn't have many race days, he will be real fresh and hungry. Bora in general is strong as Wilco Kelderman joins him as co-leader, while in-form Ben Zwiehoff and Ide Schelling will be great domestiques in mountains.

Enric Mas - in these mountains, he will do good. He will share co-leadership with Valverde, but somehow, I think he will get back the help he gave to Bala in Mallorca. Solid form in first two races, GC podium is definitely available for him.

INEOS - The team comes as a three-headed dragon to Valencia, both all heads lack something, either routine or consistency. Sivakov always go better in earlier tours, in first months of season, but it's gonna be too much for him. Geoghegan Hart was named in the very last moment for the race, so I don't know what can I expect.. Carlos Rodriguez Cano. He might get the chance finally after a great L'Avenir, but we have seen that he has better performances than average above 2000 metres, the highest point here just exceeds 1000m. Not sure what it means or if it is gonna be a pattern, top 10 is very much possible, though.

Remco Evenepoel - the Belgian star starts his season here and many expect him to win this race - yet I don't believe he will make it this time. Yes, he is a good climber, yes, he has good efforts... but I think these super steep gravel-type climbs aren't his favourites. As Stage 3 is likely to be decisive, I feel it's not gonna be another stage race victory - top 5 chance is high imo.

UAE - Two chances for a good result. Juan Ayuso is the wonderkid of this peloton and a hot favourite for taking stages here but Maigmo will be a bit too much for him, he has never raced in such a quality peloton. Marc Soler will be one to follow, I feel change of environment just did good to him, a dark horse contender for this race.

Honorable mentions:

Title defender FDJ has an ambitious young team, with Attila Valter as the leader - Ati tries to be in form for Giro, and I feel he is in a good form, but I don't think he's gonna make it two in a row for the team. Bahrain is always an interesting squad to follow, this time, they are attacking with Matej Mohorič and Pello Bilbao, the latter being a GC threat to top 6, top 8, hope they can cause upsets, though. I am in a black hole towards Fuglsang, Vader, Oomen and Vincenzo Nibali, so I'm not gonna estimate anything from them. AG2R has Felix Gall, who has been flying since he left DSM, and he is ready to surprise everyone on a stage race as well. Oh, and we always have to consider Spanish riders from smaller teams, the likes of Jonathan Lastra and Urko Berrade always need to be considered as dark horses for stage wins during these Spanish races.

Prediction: on a very tight race, Alexander Vlasov will take home the winner's jersey.