Portimão hosts first stage of event on Wednesday, a 200.2km journey ending in Lagos
The 49th edition of Volta ao Algarve, the region’s premier cycling competition, begins on Wednesday and will run until Sunday (February 19), with several top cyclists looking to add the coveted title to their resumé.
Among the list of participants are 20 cyclists among the World Top 100 Riders, such as Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Sergio Higuita (BORA-hansgrohe), Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team), 15.º Daniel Felipe Martínez (NEOS Grenadiers), Jai Hindley (BORA-hansgrohe), Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers), Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers), Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirares) and Portugal’s very own 40.º João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates).
But as organisers point out, this year’s edition of the Volta ao Algarve also has a “very interesting batch of young riders looking to establish themselves among the elite,” such as Dries de Pooter and Madis Mihkels (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Mick van Dijke and Tim van Dijke (Jumbo-Visma), and Ilan van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step).
Portimão will host the first stage of the event on Wednesday, a 200.2km journey ending in Lagos.
The second stage on Thursday will be the first major test for cyclists, who will set off from Sagres for a 189.4km trip ending at the highest point in the Algarve, Fóia, in the municipality of Monchique.
Day three will see cyclists beginning in Faro for a 203.1km stage, with the finish line waiting for them in Tavira.
For the fourth stage, riders will set off from Albufeira to complete 177.9 kilometres to the top of Malhão, in the municipality of Loulé.
“As the time trial is saved for the last day, it is expected that the climbers and their teams will attack this stage to try to distance themselves from the time trialists,” the federation says.
The winner will be crowned in Lagoa on February 19 following a 24.4km time trial.
,){kind=link}