The fourth and penultimate stage of the Volta ao Algarve, on a day that promises to be a busy one for the men fighting for the General Classification.

After a sprint finish in Tavira, this Saturday A Algarvia starts in Albufeira and finishes in Faro, in a 175.2-kilometer race full of uncertainty.

That’s because this fourth stage, with its peculiar route, allows you to dream of various possibilities. The sprinters have the least to hope for, but even so, if they manage to overcome some of the more difficult moments, they can aspire to win.

The biggest contenders for the Visit Algarve yellow jersey, and even some of the classics specialists, will have the greatest aspirations.

Jan Christen and João Almeida, UAE Team Emirates XRG teammates who are separated by just four seconds – with the Swiss having the edge – but also other strong names like Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) or Primož Roglič (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe).

3ª Etapa Vila Real de Santo António – Tavira, 183,5Km, 21.02.2025 da 51ª Volta ao Algarve, de 19 a 23 de Fevereiro de 2025 Foto: Paulo Maria / FPC

There are four mountain passes during the race, one of which is a second category climb at kilometer 41.5, in Alto do Malhão – a kind of warm-up for the final days’ time trial.

If that climb doesn’t keep the sprinters away from victory, there are three more in the last 50 kilometers (one second category and two thirds) that promise to make the end of the stage exciting and especially tough. In between, there’s an intermediate sprint in Loulé, at kilometer 135.2.

Christen, as already mentioned, heads into the fourth day of the Algarvia with the Yellow Jersey on, four seconds ahead of João Almeida – he also owns the IPDJ White Jersey.

Jordi Meeus (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) is the Crédito Agrícola Green Jersey and Nicolás Tivani (Aviludo – Louletano – Loulé) the Save Water Blue Jersey.

The fourth stage of the Volta ao Algarve is scheduled to start at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday. You can follow the race here.