Stage 6 departs from Girona, the European Base of Team Garmin-Slipstream and several other American pros. Despite this Yank affiliation, this stage is likely to be animated by Spanish teams thirsty for the spotlight in Barcelona (one of the country’s most emblematic cities). The 116-mile coastal route is full of tight, circuitous roads and short, twisting climbs and descents. Sprinters’ teams will find it tough to chase down a breakaway on this route and may not be motivated enough to consider the challenging uphill finish in Parc de Montjuic, (a ‘92 Olympic venue). Quickstep's Carlos Barredo may have his eye on this stage, and Caisse d’Epargne’s Luis Leon-Sánchez has also shown the form and instinct required for a stage like this one. All the same, Cervelo’s Heinrich Haussler has been a one-man wrecking crew this year and Lampre's Italian world champion Alessandro Ballan could also spoil the fiesta in Barcelona.

Note: Stage route, exact start/finish, and sprints/climbs have been approximated from information provided by LeTour.com. Actual stage may vary slightly.

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