The fourth day of competition in the 50th edition of Volta ao Algarve will be highlighted by the unprecedented 22-kilometer time trial in Albufeira, with many changes expected in the general classification. Daniel Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe), leader of the Algarve Tourism Region yellow jersey, will be the last to set off from the Albufeira Marina and will try to defend his lead until the finish at the Paços do Concelho.
The Colombian national champion’s task won’t be easy as he has world time trial champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quickstep) in second place, just four seconds behind. Wout Van Aert (Team Visma/Lease a Bike), winner of the third stage, is also a time trial specialist with a claim to the overall and is just 22 seconds off the lead. The time trial will help to consolidate positions in the general classification as the gap between first and tenth place is just 23 seconds.
There are several candidates for victory in the individual effort, including Filippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers), former world champion and current Italian champion in the specialty, Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ), a regular time trial winner at the Volta ao Algarve, Stefan Bissegger and Ben Healy (EF Education-Easypost), Thymen Arensman, Geraint Thomas and Magnus Sheffield (Ineos-Grenadiers), Tao Hart (Lidl-Trek), Jan Tratnik (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Mattia Cattaneo (Soudal-Quick Step), Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) and Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates).
The time trial course is made up of several long straights and few bends, but still with some more technical parts. The route is mostly flat, but there are some ups and downs, as usual in the Volta ao Algarve, and in the middle there is an area more exposed to the wind.
The pure time trialists have a good opportunity to show themselves here, as do the more complete riders. The first intermediate point is installed at 7.1 kilometers and the second timing point appears at 16.9.
The first rider to take to the road will be Diogo Oliveira (ABTF Betão-Feirense) at 12:21, while Daniel Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) will be last at 15:21.