Puebla de Vicar > Roquetas de Mar 190km Get ready for a big sprint in Almeria. 

Figueira de Foz > Figueira de Foz 191km Just the 4th edition of this interesting race down in Portugal, the perfect warm up for Volta ao Algarve. In the first running, Casper Pedersen won the sprint from a small group, but the last two winners were from solo attacks, Evenepoel and Morgado. How will the race be won this year?

Agost > La Nucía 128km A big day of climbing awaits the riders in the Benidorm area of Valenciana. Eyes down…

Forcalquier > Montagne de Lure 176km Day 2 in Provence and the big GC day. The stage ends with the climb of Montagne de Lure, some of you might remember Quintana winning here back in 2022. Those of you who’ve been following cycling for a while longer will also recall Richie Porte winning a Paris-Nice stage here in 2013 and Alberto Contador did the same in 2009. I was just thinking about Bertie earlier today, I fucking loved him.

Fortuna > Santomera 179km The organisers had to shorten the opening stage, but they did well to get the race on. I can see similar problems with the 2nd stage.

Cartagena > Yecla 178km What looks like a calm day is going to be anything but.

Vila-Real > Vila-Real 117km Stage 1 was unaffected by the wind, but it did seem like some of the peloton were a little reluctant to get rolling. Vollering took the expected win, but there wasn’t even a sniff of echelons as it looked like an almost go slow in the first half of the stage. Day 2 is one which should interest the sprinters. 

Marseille > Saint-Victoret 163km The first stage in Provence, a day which should suit the fast men. With just 3 stages in the race, breakaways will have a hard time taking a win.

Gandia > Gandia 121km The race kicks off with a stage very similar to last year’s first day, when Demi Vollering dropped everyone and won in convincing style. For many, it’s the first race of the season, form is unknown.

Nizwa > Green Mountain 154km The final stage in Oman, it’s all going to be decided on the Green Mountain. Crashes and sickness have already seen several GC contenders fall out of contention. That’s Kuss, Lemmen, Paret-Peintre, Vansevenant, Rubio, Plapp and Kudus all down and out, it’s a case of who’s left standing.