After the mythical finish at Alto da Foia, the Volta ao Algarve continues this Friday with the third stage, which links a 183.5-kilometer route between Vila Real de Santo António and Tavira.

The arrival at the highest point in the Algarve the day before gave a first sketch of what could be the fight for the General Classification, but day three of the Algarvia will be reserved for the sprinters.

However, it’s a stage in which there’s work for the climbers, with two mountain passes in the second half of the race: one at kilometer 98, third category, in Mercador, and another at kilometer 140, also third category, in Faz Fato.

Then, yes, the race is for the men in the fight for the Green Jerseys: 25,000 meters from the finish, there’s the Vila Real de Santo António intermediate srint, a kind of warm-up for the end of the stage.

There, riders such as Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché – Wanty), Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers), Milan Fretin (Cofidis) or Arnaud de Lie (Lotto) could have their say in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Tavira, if it lives up to what has happened in recent years.

Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates XRG), it should be noted, starts this third stage wearing the Visit Algarve Yellow Jersey, four seconds ahead of his teammate, the Portuguese João Almeida. Laurens De Plus, from INEOS Grenadiers, is third, 13 seconds down.

Christen also owns the other jerseys: the Crédito Agrícola Green Jersey – Points, the Save Water Blue Jersey – Mountain and the IPDJ White Jersey – Youth.

The third stage of the Volta ao Algarve is scheduled to start at 12:00 this Friday. You can follow the race here.