The WorldTour teams BMC and Trek-Segafredo will join the peloton of the 44th Volta ao Algarve  with very strong squads, able to fight for the GC and all stages of the 2.HC Portuguese race which be held from 14 to 18 February.

The Australian Richie Porte, winner of the Volta ao Algarve in 2012 and stage winner in 2012 and 2015, will be one of the strongest contenders for the yellow jersey, after his wonderful start of the season at Tour Down Under. Another rider with personal history in Algarve, Tejay van Garderen, three times top 10 in the Portuguese race, is also pre-registered for the Volta ao Algarve.

After a great second part of the season in 2017, Dylan Teuns will be in Algarve looking forward a convincent performance. The timetrialist Stefan Kung, Swiss champion of ITT, is one of the candidates to win the third stage, an individual time trial in Lagoa. Simon Gerrans has the skills to fight for the success in the sprint finishes. The BMC Racing Team also registered the Belgian riders Jurgen Roelandts and Loïc Vliegen.

The Trek-Segafredo team is also very strong. The Dutch Bauke Mollema and the Portuguese road champion, Rúben Guerreiro, are the team best options for the overall classification. The Austrian Matthias Brändle and the Irishman Ryan Mullen will have for sure one word to say at the third stage, the individual time trial.

The Trek’s team for Classics will be represented for John Degenkolb, Jasper Stuyven and Gregory Rast. Degenkolb and Stuyven are also fast cyclists, able to win the sprint finishes stages.

Stages
February 14: 1st Stage: Albufeira – Lagos, 192,6 km
February 15: 2nd Stage: Sagres – Fóia (Monchique), 187,9 km
February 16: 3rd Stage: Lagoa – Lagoa, 20,3 km (ITT)
February 17: 4th Stage: Almodôvar – Tavira, 199,2 km
February 18: 5th Stage: Faro – Malhão (Loulé), 173,5 km

Last winners
2017 – Primoz Roglic (Team Lotto NL-Jumbo)
2016 – Geraint Thomas (Sky)
2015 – Geraint Thomas (Sky)
2014 – Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)
2013 – Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)
2012 – Richie Porte (Sky)
2011 – Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad)
2010 – Alberto Contador (Astana)
2009 – Alberto Contador (Astana)
2008 – Stijn Devolder (QuickStep)