The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya race organizers had chosen a round trip in Barcelona for stage 7 of the 2025 edition of the one-week stage race. The renowned race through Catalonian territory would culminate with a short, but very challenging 88.2-kilometer ride in hilly terrain in and around Barcelona. The route included the famous Montjuic climb, which would have to be contested no less than six times.

Juan Ayuso was leading the general classification for UAE Team Emirates before the final stage 7 in Barcelona. Primoz Roglic (Team Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe) was in second place, just one second behind the Spanish rider. Movistar’s Enric Mas was third, 21 seconds back. Soudal-QuickStep’s Mikel Landa was fourth, Lenny Martinez fifth (Bahrain Victorious), Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers) seventh, Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) ninth, and Richard Carapaz tenth for EF Education-EasyPost.

It did not take long for Primoz Roglic to fire on all engines. The Slovenian rider won the first intermediate bonus sprint shortly after the start of the stage and thereby gained valuable bonus seconds for the general classification. The points caused him to become the virtual general classification leader as current GC leader Juan Ayuso finished only third in the sprint. Ayuso’s UAE Team Emirates troops were not well-positioned in the peloton before the sprint and proved unable to assist their team leader.

UAE Team Emirates riders were spearheading the peloton, which was united after twenty-eight kilometers of the stage. The challenging climbing sections still awaited the riders in the last fifty kilometers of the stage.

Ayuso was visibly very annoyed with the poor result in the bonus sprint and the look on his face in the following kilometers showed this was not going to be a fun day for his teammates. Roglic, on the other hand, was clearly pleased with his great acceleration and sprinting performance. 

The speed in the peloton increased as the riders approached the second bonus sprint with 47 kilometers left of the stage. Roglic failed to obtain a proper position in the sprint and his German teammate Nico Denz sprinted against Ayuso, hoping to prevent the Spanish rider from taking the bonus seconds. Denz failed. Ayuso won the sprint and banked the three bonus seconds. Denz took second place, while Roglic finished third and gained a single bonus second for the general classification.

Multiple attacks were launched following the bonus sprint. Riders were eager to establish a breakaway group and stage 7 was the final chance for riders to secure fame and success in this year’s race.

Bruno Armirail (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) tried their luck in a combined breakaway effort, but they only opened a small gap over the chasing peloton, which was spearheaded by riders from Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in the hilly streets of Barcelona.

Armirail and Carapaz had been reeled in when 36 kilometers remained of stage 7.

The speed was very fast, and several riders were dropping off the back of the peloton on the legendary Montjuic climb. The stage was being contested early in the day because soccer team FC Barcelona would be facing Girona on the old Olympic stadium in Barcelona in the afternoon, because FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium was presently being renovated. 

Riders from UAE Team Emirates had joined Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe riders at the front of the peloton when thirty kilometers were left of today’s stage 7 of Volta a Catalunya 2025.

Jokin Murguialday attacked for Euskaltel-Euskadi on the Montjuic mountain but was reeled in when 28.5 kilometers remained. Riders from the GC favorites teams were keeping things tight at the front.

Frenchman Tom Donnenwirth attacked for Groupama-FDJ and managed to establish a noteworthy lead over the reduced main peloton. He was also caught.

Primoz Roglic attacked solo on the Montjuic and opened a small gap before the fast descent. Juan Ayuso, Egan Bernal, Laurens de Plus and others were now chasing. Roglic was showing amazing courage and wanted to give the spectators a great show. The Slovenian rider had fought his way to a twenty second lead when seventeen kilometers remained.

Simon Yates (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) had formed a chase duo with Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek). They did not pose a threat to Roglic in the GC. Riders from Lotto and UAE Team Emirates were leading the Ayuso group further back.

Simmons and Yates were reeled in when 14 kilometers remained. Meanwhile, Roglic had not lost his courage or depleted his energy reserves. He pressed on solo.

Enric Mas tried to make the leap to Roglic. He was joined by other GC favorites, but Ayuso was not present as he was apparently having a bad day in the saddle as were his teammates.

When ten kilometers remained, a four-man group featuring Mikel Landa, Axel Laurance, Enric Mas, and Lennert van Eetvelt were chasing eighteen seconds behind Roglic.

While Roglic continued with his fine performance at the front of the race, the four-man group was caught by the chasers.

Roglic entered the final lap. This was now make-it or break-it for race leader Juan Ayuso, who would have to catch Roglic before the finish if he wanted to win the race.

Adam Yates was pulling in the main peloton in support of team captain Ayuso, but the group was now twenty seconds behind Roglic. 

Roglic was climbing the Montjuic for the final time. If he made it to the top ahead of Ayuso, he would be virtually certain of winning the race as he was fast on the descent.

Laurens de Plus (Ineos-Grenadiers) attacked from the main peloton as did Lennert van Eetvelt for Team Lotto.

Roglic was now 12 seconds ahead of the chasers.

Two kilometers remained of stage 7 and Roglic was still solo in front while De Plus and van Eetvelt were chasing eleven seconds behind. The remaining GC favorites were further behind.

Primoz Roglic proudly crossed the finish line in Barcelona in solo fashion after a very courageous attacking effort, which was initiated with three laps left of the stage. The Slovenian rider won both stage 7 and the general classification. 

Laurens de Plus proved the fastest man in a two-man sprint across the finish line to finish second in the stage. Lennert van Eetvelt completed the stage podium.

“For me it was all about winning this race as I have already finished second two times,” stage and race winner Primoz Roglic told Roadcycling.com shortly after the finish. “It appeared the decision would come down to the bonus seconds and I was really appreciating the great support I experienced,” Roglic added. 

“Normally I always say the legs are talking in this race, but everything was so close this year. The team was working well, and the legs are ready for the season, and I’ll now start the build-up for the Giro d’Italia,” Roglic explained.

Primoz Roglic won the general classification in 24:46:21. Juan Ayuso finished 28 seconds behind the winner, while Enric Mas finished third in the GC, 53 seconds behind the race winner. Mikel Landa took fourth, Lenny Martinez fifth, Egan Bernal seventh, Simon Yates ninth, while Richard Carapaz completed the top ten.

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