Mat Hayman's view
On paper, this looks like a fairly flat stage, and once again the sprinters' teams will want to control the race. The GC teams will be keeping out of trouble and will be waiting for the next few stages. The sprinters' lead-out trains will be putting all their winter-work into practice, and it could be that one of the more well-oiled machines from the previous years come out on top, simply because they're used to working with each other.
The heat, as throughout the race, is going to be a factor. The southern hemisphere riders will be used to it, and they might have spent most of the off-season in those conditions, whereas some of the Europeans – although they might have been in Australia for some time – might never like it or get used to it. At the end of the day, you're either good in the heat or you're not.
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Thursday's Volta a Catalunya summit stage finish cut short due to high wind warning in weather déjà vu
Vallter climb all but eliminated from stage 4 -
How to watch 2026 pro cycling in the US – A streaming guide for global races
FloBikes, HBO Max and Peacock offer all the options for the major one-day races in Europe this spring, from Cobbled Classics to Ardennes Classics and more -
Late roster move puts Ronde van Brugge defending champion Lorena Wiebes back in lineup for 'tough race' with forecast of rain and wind
Dutch champion replaces Marie Schreiber for Thursday Classic -
Remco Evenepoel crashes at the end of a spectacular final breakaway with Jonas Vingegaard in Volta a Catalunya
Belgian taken out by roundabout in closing kilometre after echelons form in hectic finale
