Valverde, Quintana, Porte, Froome headline deep Catalunya field

Watch last year's winner Alejandro Valverde and team mate Nairo Quintana do battle with Richie Porte and Chris Froome at the 99th Volta Ciclista a Catalunya on SBS VICELAND, live from super early in the morning, Tuesday 26 March.

Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana finished one-two at the 2018 Volta Catlunya winner (Getty)

Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana finishing one-two at the Volta a Catalunya (Getty) Source: Getty

The world champion has won the last two editions of the WorldTour race with Movistar team mate Quintana victorious in 2016, the pair finishing one-two in 2018.

Our Richie triumphed in 2015 and will look to bounce back from illness and a less than ideal start to the season for new team Trek-Segafredo.

Team Sky will take Chris Froome and 2019 Paris-Nice winner Egan Bernal to the Catalan region with Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) Romain Bardet (Ag2R), Thibaut Pinot (Groupama FDJ) Enric Mas (Deceuninck Quick-Step), Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma) and potentially both Mitchelton-Scott's Yates twins all headlining their squads. Catalan rider Marc Soler will also line-up for Movistar.

Aussie Ben O'Connor looks set to start for Dimension Data while big name Belgian youngster Remco Evenepoel heads to the line with Deceuninck Quick-Step.

The race kicks off Tuesday 26 March early morning our time with tough ascents to Santa Fe del Montseny and Collformic. The peloton hits the high mountains on stages 3 (early Thu morning) and 4 (early Fri morning) climbing to the Vallter 2000 and La Molina ski resorts.

The final two stages are more hilly than mountainous, but eight times over the Category 3 Alt de Montjuïc during the finale (Sunday night) in Barcelona could sort out a few things on GC, if they aren't already.

Summary: it's going to be 🔥. Watch it unfold live on SBS VICELAND:

Tuesday 26 March

Volta Catalunya - Stage 1

0145- 0315 AEDT - LIVE to eastern states only