As the Tour of Catalunya starts on Monday, Lotto Belisol will line up with Jurgen Van den Broeck looking to improve on his third place last year.

Van den Broeck stood on the podium next to winner Michael Albasini and Samuel Sanchez. This year’s starting list includes some of the sport’s big shot names like Tour winner Bradley Wiggins (Sky), Giro winner Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Joaquím Rodriguez (Katusha) and Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida). These last three riders won the Tour of Catalunya in 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively [In 2011Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank- Sungard) won the race but was subsequently stripped of his win because of doping.].

None of the seven stages is flat. The third stage arrives on Vallter 2000 after a 12 km long climb with an average gradient of 7.8%. The day after it’s time for the longest stage, 217.7 km long, with a summit finish on Port Ainé after 18.7 km of climbing at an average gradient of 6.6 %. On the course five climbs are waiting for the riders with the last two climbs of the highest category, called the “special category”. On the final day the peloton goes to Barcelona where the finish lies on the Alto de Montjuïc. In Barcelona the riders will do 8 laps in which the Montjuïc has to be climbed.

For Van den Broeck this Tour of Catalunya offers chances to shine and further build up his condition for his main goal of the season, the Tour de France.

“I am looking forward to the Tour of Catalunya because I performed well here last year,” said Van den Broeck. “Apart from that stage races like this are important to collect WorldTour points. But I think I am ready for it. In the beginning of March I went two weeks to Tenerife to train. If you have to compete against riders that are stronger and live in countries where the weather is better, it is necessary that you escape the Belgian climate to become stronger yourself. The past few years that training camp in Tenerife pleased me a lot.”

Besides the fierce competition awaiting him, Van den Broeck is weary of the weather conditions, “The stages look difficult and it will be interesting to see what the weather conditions will be like. Last year those had a lot of influence on the development of the race. That third place in 2012 doesn’t guarantee me new success but it gives confidence, although this year there are a lot of strong riders at the start.”

Lotto Belisol selection for Volta a Catalunya:

Brian Bulgaç, Francis De Greef, Adam Hansen, Olivier Kaisen, Jurgen Van de Walle, Jurgen Van den Broeck, Joost Van Leijen en Tim Wellens

Stages of Volta a Catalunya Catalunya:

Stage 1: Monday 18th of March: Calella-Calella (159. 3 km)

Stage 2: Tuesday 19th of March: Girona-Banyoles (160.7 km)

Stage 3: Wednesday 20th of March: Vidreres-Vallter 2000-Setcases (180.1 km)

Stage 4: Thursday 21st of March: Llanars-Vall de Camprodon-Port Ainé-Rialp (217.7 km)

Stage 5: Friday 22nd of March: Rialp-Lleida (156.5 km)

Stage 6: Saturday 23rd of March: Almacelles-Valls (178.7 km)

Stage 7: Sunday 24th of March: El Vendrell-Barcelona (Montjuïc) (122.2 km)