Stage 5 of Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025 – the legendary race through Catalonia – would take the riders down from the mountains and into flat territory. The stage would be contested in Terres de l’Ebre – the south-westernmost region of Catalonia. 

The race organizers of Volta a Catalunya had chosen a 172-kilometer route from Pauls to Amposta and stage 5 was designed to appeal to the remaining sprinters in the peloton, before they would be exposed to the weekend’s mountain challenges in the decisive stages of this year’s Volta. 

Having left the comforting and religious surroundings of Montserrat behind, the riders gathered at the start line in the picturesque mountain village of Pauls in high spirits. The riders were sensing the warmth of the Spring season as the sun had decided to enjoy today’s event from afar. 

The temperature was seventeen degrees Celsius and would climb to twenty degrees later in the day. Primoz Roglic (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe) was leading the general classification by six seconds ahead of Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates). Enric Mas was third for Movistar, while Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep) was fourth, and Lenny Martinez fifth for Bahrain Victorious.

Jokin Murguialday (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Mats Wenzel (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ) were the first riders to launch attacks in stage 5 of this year’s Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. They were joined by Michael Leonard (Ineos-Grenadiers), Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale), Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel-Euskadi), and Jan Castellon (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA).

Riders from UAE Team Emirates and Team Visma-Lease a Bike were controlling the pace at the front of the main peloton in the beginning of the stage, which was not expected to influence the general classification. The front group had fought its way to an advantage of about two minutes when 100 kilometers remained of today’s challenge on the bikes.

Steven Kruijswijk was leading the chase effort for Visma-Lease a Bike when eighty kilometers remained. At this point the advantage of the seven-man front group had been reduced to just one minute. The sprinter teams wanted to keep things tight in today’s stage to avoid missing out on a great opportunity of obtaining a noteworthy stage victory.

Riders from EF Education-EasyPost and Equipo Kern Pharma had moved to the front of the peloton to increase the pace further. The hard work in the peloton was paying off as five riders from the breakaway group had been caught with 65 kilometers remaining. Only Murguialday and Paleni pressed on.

Paleni left Murguialday behind with forty-five kilometers left to race. The Groupama-FDJ rider was showing great initiative. Murguialday, on the other hand, was reeled in by the peloton with forty-two kilometers left. Paleni now had a lead of 45 seconds over the main peloton, where riders from Visma-Lease a Bike and UAE Team Emirates were handling the chase effort.

Frenchman Enzo Paleni was reeled in by the chasing peloton at the 24-kilometer mark following a very admirable effort.

Geraint Thomas moved to the front of the peloton to control the pace with his fellow Ineos-Grenadiers teammates. The riders were approaching the sea and strong winds, and high speed could possibly cause the peloton to split into echelons.

A front group formed, which featured some forty riders. General classification favorites had been attentive in the windy conditions and Primoz Roglic, Lenny Martinez, Mikel Landa, Richard Carapaz, Enric Mas, Simon Yates, and Juan Ayuso were all present.

The speed was high and just ten kilometers remained of today’s stage 5. The front group had an advantage of almost a minute over the chasing peloton five kilometers from the finish line.

The front group now prepared the stage for a sprint finish that would decide the outcome of the stage. Teams who had sprinters and fast men present in the front group were taking turns to increase the speed and keep the chasers at bay. EF Education-EasyPost’s Richard Carapaz was doing great work at the front for teammate Marijn van den Berg. Geraint Thomas took over for Axel Laurance.

Axel Laurance started his sprint. Marijn van den Berg accelerated too. But it was Matthew Brennan who was the fastest man across the finish line. The 19-year-old Visma-Lease a Bike rider from Great Britain took the stage victory ahead of Tibor del Grosso (Alpecin-Deceuninck), while Pavel Bittner completed the stage podium for Team Picnic-PostNL). Marijn van den Berg disappointing finished fourth following the hard work from team captain Richard Carapaz.

Juan Ayuso leads the general classification ahead of Primoz Roglic after stage 5.

Saturday’s stage 6 of Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025 will take the riders into challenging mountain territory on a 159-kilometer route from Berga to Queralt. The stage profile includes one Category 3 climb, two Category 1 climbs, and one climb beyond category. The general classification favorites are expected to compete for the stage victory and podium positions.

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