From Albufeira to Lagos, the 52nd edition of the Volta ao Algarve saw its second sprint finish of the week on Saturday, with the same outcome as the first. Paul Magnier was the fastest rider of the afternoon and claimed his second victory of the week.
In four days of racing, three were won by a rider named Paul: Magnier won both sprints and Seixas celebrated in Foia. Only Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) was able to interrupt the dominance of the French duo.
Breakaway for the intermediate points
As on previous days, it didn’t take long for the breakaway to form, with nine riders, again all from Portuguese teams. It was from this group that the winner of the day’s first intermediate sprint in Lagoa emerged, with Hugo Nunes of Credibom / LA Alumínios standing out.
Further ahead, the only kom, a third category climb in Nave, also took place. Tomás Contte (Aviludo-Louletano-Loulé) took advantage of this to strengthen the lead of the Blue Jersey – Save Water, on a day when Gonçalo Carvalho (Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortágua) was the most voted rider for the Combativity Award – Água Monchique.
Shortly afterwards, the front group split up, with three riders attacking, but the attempt did not last long. It was once again with the larger group that the hot spot of Alzejur was passed, with two bonus sprints in the space of about one kilometer. Rubén Fernández (Anicolor/Campicarn) was the fastest in the first sprint, Hugo Nunes in the second.
4ª Etapa Albufeira – Lagos 182,1 Km, 21.02.2026 da 52ª Volta ao Algarve, de 18 a 22 de Fevereiro de 2026 Foto: Rodrigo Rodrigues / FPC
The peloton toughened up the race, putting pressure on the breakaway group, and by the first pass through the finish line, only three riders remained in the breakaway. Of that trio, Hugo Nunes offered the most resistance, but he was eventually caught about 25 kilometers from the finish.
Soudal Quick-Step train was once again the strongest
From then on, the race remained tight until the very last meter. As the finish line approached, the different groups began to move, but in the end, as in Tavira, it was Soudal Quick-Step that came out on top, with Paul Magnier winning twice in the Algarvia. Jordi Meeus (Red Bull – BORA – Hansgrohe) came second, Oded Kogut (NSN Cycling Team) third.
The Frenchman arrived in Portugal as one of the big favorites to be the fastest man in the Volta ao Algarve, alongside Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), and he lived up to expectations.
“It’s a great feeling again. I felt good. It was tough at the end, but the team did an excellent job and I’m very happy with the victory”, said Magnier.
This Sunday is decision day in the Algarve, with the iconic climb to Alto do Malhão. The fifth stage starts in Faro, where the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports, Margarida Balseiro Lopes, and the Secretary of State for Sports, Pedro Dias, will be in attendance.
For the decisive stage, Juan Ayuso will start as the Yellow Jersey – Turismo do Algarve. Paul Seixas is the owner of the White Jersey – IPDJ, for youth, and in terms of points, it is now Paul Magnier who will wear the Green Jersey – Crédito Agrícola.
“I’m happy to have made it through today and hope we’ll be fine tomorrow. It will be a day like Foia, with a lot of tension, a lot of bonus seconds at stake, and everything counts. We’ll have to fight. I’m fine, the team is fine, and I believe we can try to win the race”, Ayuso said.
Schedules
February 18 | Vila Real de Santo António – Tavira | 117.5 miles | 12:00 p.m. – 4:27 p.m.
February 19 | Portimão – Foia | 92.2 miles | 12:45 p.m. – 4:25 p.m.
February 20 | Vilamoura – Vilamoura (CRI) | 19.5 km | 1:05 p.m. (provisional)
February 21 | Albufeira – Lagos | 175.1 km | 11:00 a.m.-3:20 p.m.
22/02 | Faro – Malhão | 148.4 km | 12:05 p.m.-3:42 p.m.