Super wet in Barcelona, so they came with a safety solution: times for the GC will be taken at the top of the Montjuic climb, around 3.5km before the finish. However, bonus seconds will count both at the top of the climb and at the finish.
This is going to make things more dangerous, but I guess that's what they want. The issue is mostly the way to the climb: full of roundabouts, and narrow roads with lots of turns, where there will now be basically a massive sprint right through all that to get to the foot of the climb in an even better position. Smart!
We're now going to get this mix:
- Riders who sprint to the top for the bonus seconds and points
- Riders who sprint to the top because for them, that's where the finish is
- Riders who throw themselves downhill to go for the stage win and will have to pass riders who don't care anymore
Can't go wrong.