In the wake of the confirmation that Alberto Contador will definitely take his place at the start of the February 18 Tour of the Algarve, organisers have revealed the 2009 five-day cycle race route. The peleton will set off from Albufeira to Faro on the Wednesday, the second stage covers the western Algarve from Lagoa to Lagos, day three takes in the steep climb inland from Vila Real de Santo Antonio towards either Malhao or San Miguel followed by a time trial between Castro Marim and Tavira on the penultimate day. The fifth and closing stage has the leaders then streaming away from Vila de Bispo towards the finishing line on Portimao’s harbour front while putting in a lap at the new Motor Park race track on the way.
Meanwhile 2008 Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre, sprinter Thor Hushovd and the remainder of their 25-strong brand new Swiss Cervelo team took time off from an Algarve training camp to attend the latest power in world cycling’s official presentation to the sports media at the Quinta da Ria Resort near Tavira. At the same time that city’s victorious Tour of Portugal Palmeira Resort team announced that it is present at this week’s Argentine Tour de San Luis but would not continue to dispute the subsequent Giro del Sol as originally intended.
