João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) and Rui Costa (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), the two most successful Portuguese cyclists of the last decade, are the greatest national hope for the 49th Volta ao Algarve, which attracts a world-class peloton to the south of the country between February 15th and 19th.
The only Portuguese race of the UCI ProSeries calendar was presented this morning in Portimão, and the names of the 174 pre-registered cyclists were revealed. It was already known that the peloton would be of quality, given the participation of 12 of the 18 WorldTour teams, including the seven best in the 2022 international ranking. But looking at the composition of each team also confirmed the high level of the peloton.
There will be 20 riders from the world’s top 100, Grand Tour winners and cycling monuments, world, European, and Olympic champions. It will be a unique opportunity for Portuguese fans to see some of the world’s stars up close and for the Portuguese teams to compete at a very high level.
João Almeida and Rui Costa are two men in condition to fight for the final yellow jersey. But they will have strong competition. First of all, two riders who climbed to the podium in Grand Tours in 2022, the Australian Jai Hindley (BORA-hansgrohe), winner of the Giro d’Italia, and Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers), third in the Tour de France.
Among other worthy contenders to succeed Remco Evenepoel we find names like Michal Kwiatkowski (INEOS Grenadiers), winner of the Volta ao Algarve in his last participation in 2018, or teammates Daniel Martínez, third in the Algarve in 2022, and Thymen Arensman, sixth in last year’s Vuelta. There is also Sergio Higuita (BORA-hansgrohe), winner in Malhão in 2022, Gijs Leemreize and Sam Oomen (Jumbo-Visma), Mark Padun (EF Education-EasyPost) or Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates), who started this season very strong, becoming Australian time trial champion and winning the overall of the Tour Down Under.
The sprint finishes should be the stage for exciting battles between the European road champion, Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal Quick-Step), Alexander Kristoff (UNO-X Pro Cycling Team), Jordi Meeus (BORA-hansgrohe), Hugo Hofstetter (Team Arkéa-Samsic), Jake Stewart (Groupama-FDJ), Mike Teunissen (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), John Degenkolb (Team DSM), Iúri Leitão (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) or Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates).
In a race that ends with a 24,4-kilometer individual time trial in Lagoa, the specialists of this solo exercise will also have a say in the fight for the overall. And the best in the world will be in the Algarve. First of all, the reigning world and European champion, Tobias Foss (Jumbo-Visma) and Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost), respectively, but also the European and world runner-up, Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), who was European champion in 2020 and 2021, and the 2020 and 2021 world champion and current world time record holder, Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers).
In addition to the prestigious names, this year’s edition of the Volta ao Algarve has a very interesting batch of young riders, looking to establish themselves among the elite, after having already made their marks in the youth categories and in smaller races. Cyclists such as Dries de Pooter and Madis Mihkels (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Mick van Dijke and Tim van Dijke (Jumbo-Visma), Ilan van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step) should be followed with attention, Casper Van Uden, Oscar Onley and Kevin Vermaerke (Team DSM), Filippo Baroncini, Natnael Tesfatsion and Mathias Vacek (Trek-Segafredo), Søren Wærenskjold and Tobias Halland Johannessen (UNO-X Pro Cycling Team).
It will also be of interest to follow the performance of the Portuguese teams, who, in 2022, were protagonists. João Matias (Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortágua) surprised the climbers and won the mountain classification. Frederico Figueiredo (Glassdrive-Q8-Anicolor) was with the best in the two top finishes and Vicente García de Mateos (Aviludo-Louletano-Loulé Concelho) was the best among the Portuguese teams in the final overall, finishing in 19th place.
Participating Teams
WorldTeams: Alpecin-Deceuninck (BEL), BORA-hansgrohe (GER), EF Educations-EasyPost (USA), Groupama-FDJ (FRA), INEOS Grenadiers (GBR), Intermarché-Circus-Wanty (BEL), Jumbo-Visma (NED), Soudal Quick-Step (BEL), Team Arkéa-Samsic (FRA), Team DSM (NED), Trek-Segafredo (USA) and UAE Team Emirates (UAE)
ProTeams: Caja Rural-Seguros RGA (ESP), Human Powered Health (USA), Tudor Pro Cylcing Team (SUI) and UNO-X Pro Cycling Team (NOR).
Continental Teams: ABTF Betão-Feirense (POR), AP Hotels & Resorts-Tavira-SC Farense (POR), Aviludo-Louletano-Loulé Concelho (POR), Credibom-LA Alumínios-Marcos Car (POR), Efapel Cycling (POR), Glassdrive-Q8-Anicolor (POR), Kelly-Simoldes-UDO (POR), Rádio Popular-Paredes-Boavista (POR) and Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortágua (POR).
Route
February 15th: 1st Stage: Portimão-Lagos, 200,2 km
February 16th: 2nd Stage: Sagres (Vila do Bispo) – Alto da Fóia (Monchique), 186,3 km
February 17th: 3rd Stage: Faro – Tavira, 203,1 km
February 18th: 4th Stage: Albufeira – Alto do Malhão (Loulé), 177,9 km
February 19th: 5th Stage: Lagoa – Lagoa, 24,4 km (Individual Time-Trial)
World Top 100 Riders
8.º Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ)
10.º Sergio Higuita (BORA-hansgrohe)
11.º Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team)
15.º Daniel Felipe Martínez (NEOS Grenadiers)
21.º Jai Hindley (BORA-hansgrohe)
33.º Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers)
35.º Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ)
35.º Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers)
39.º Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirares)
40.º João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)
43.º Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal Quick-Step)
44.º Hugo Hofstetter (Team Arkéa-Samsic)
47.º Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates)
49.º Warren Barguil (Team Arkéa-Samsic)
56.º Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates)
62.º Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
76.º Thomas Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers)
81.º Matis Louvel (Team Arkéa-Samsic)
93.º Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers)
96.º Natnael Tesfatsion (Trek-Segafredo)