After a complicated day in Alto da Fóia, the weather will once again be much nicer and the third stage of the 50th Volta ao Algarve will also have less difficulties. At least as far as the climbs is concerned because the finish in Tavira has its challenges on a day that the 192.2 kilometer route starting in Vila Real de Santo António, requires attention.
The peloton goes to the Sotavento Algarvio, for a stage normally done at a high pace. The teams with sprinters know that they cannot be distracted for a second. In 2023, Magnus Cort entered the finish line with his lesson well prepared: he made the turn perfectly and surprised everyone. It was an exception to the rule in Tavira, where the list of winners included great sprinters like Sam Bennett and Dylan Groenewegen or the now retired Marcel Kittel and André Greipel. It should be noted that Cort is present, representing the Norwegian ProTeam Uno-X Mobility.
Important day for those who aspire to the Green Jersey Crédito Agrícola (points classification), which is in the owned of Gerben Thijssen. The Belgian from Intermarché-Wanty won clearly in Lagos and is looking for another triumph against sprinters eager to achieve victory too. Like Arnaud Démare (Arkéa-B&B Hotels brings a team very focused on helping the French cyclist) and Jordi Meeus (BORA-hansgrohe), third placed a year ago in Tavira and who can give BORA-hansgrohe another victory, after Daniel Martínez won in Fóia.
In addition to be where the stage begins, Vila Real de Santo António is also the location of the intermediate sprint, at 167,6 kilometers. As far as categorized climbs are concerned, there will be two at stake for the Blue Jersey Água é Vida – that belongs to Martínez – in Alcaria (103,4) and Faz Fato (148), both third category.
The leader of the race, Daniel Martínez, cannot think it will be a peaceful day. BORA-hansgrohe will have to protect the Yellow Jersey Turismo do Algarve so that it can face the decisive weekend with the time trial and arrival in Malhão with optimism to conquer the second Volta ao Algarve in a row.