The peloton heads to northeastern Spain next week for the Volta a Catalunya, a race that carries special meaning for NSN Cycling Team as the team lines up on what now truly feels like home roads.
Starting on Monday, the seven-day stage race will once again test the peloton across a demanding and varied parcours, combining explosive early stages, high-mountain battles and a traditional finale in Barcelona.
Racing here brings an added layer of motivation. These are familiar roads, ridden throughout the year, in a region that has become central to the team’s daily environment.
For Sports Director Óscar Guerrero, that connection is clear.
He says: “For us, Catalunya really feels like a home race now. With the team based in Girona and the strong ties to Barcelona through NSN, there’s a deeper connection to this region.”
“We’ve always been welcomed really well here, but now there’s an extra sense of belonging. We feel like we’re racing at home and that we’ll have the support of the fans as a local team.”
The 2026 edition is expected to be one of the most demanding in recent years. While the opening stages may offer opportunities for fast finishers and reduced groups, the race will quickly shift towards the mountains.
Stages 4, 5 and 6 will be decisive, each featuring summit finishes and multiple days with over 4,000 meters of climbing, where the General Classification is expected to take shape.
“It’s going to be a very high-level race, with big leaders and very strong teams controlling the GC,” Guerrero explained. “The mountain stages will be key, and we’ll need to see where we stand after the first big test to decide our approach.”
The opening part of the race could offer chances for the sprinters, with Ethan Vernon looking to make an impact early in the week.
“I’m really happy to return to Catalunya for a third time. It’s a race that means a lot to me,” said Vernon. “It’s a tough route this year with limited sprint opportunities, so I’ll look to make the most of the early stages.”
“Later in the week, it will also be a good training block for me ahead of the Giro, and I’ll be there to support the climbers where needed.”
In the mountains, the team will rely on its depth and experience, with multiple riders capable of adapting to different race scenarios.
George Bennett, who knows these roads well, expects a challenging and selective race. “It’s one of the best races of the year, and for many of us it feels like a home race with so many riders based between Andorra and Girona,” he said.
“This year’s edition looks especially hard, with several stages above 4,000 meters of climbing. That’s where the race will really be decided.”
With a balanced lineup and different cards to play, the approach will be to stay present in the race, take opportunities when they come, and adapt as the week unfolds.
Racing at home always brings something extra. And in Catalunya, that feeling runs deeper than ever.
NSN Cycling Team at Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (Monday 23 – Sunday 29 March)
Riders: George Bennett (NZL), Pier-André Côté (CAN), Brady Gilmore (AUS), Jan Hirt (CZE), Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ), Jake Stewart (GBR), Ethan Vernon (GBR)
Sports Directors: Óscar Guerrero (ESP), Guy Sagiv (ISR), Pat McCarty (USA)