There are already known the cities that will host the stages of the 43rd Volta ao Algarve, which take place from 15 to 19 February 2017. For the first time the Volta ao Algarve will be a 2HC race, after several years as a 2.1 race.
The route will keep the profile of the last years, providing a race to crown a complet rider but with opportunities to all kind of cyclists.
The Volta ao Algarve will have two stages adapted to the sprinters needs, two uphill finishes and an individual time trial.
The race will start with a low profile stage from Albufeira to Lagos, where the peloton will find a great place to a spectacular sprint.
The second stage starts at Lagoa and will end at the top of Fóia, the highest point of Algarve, at 902 meters of elevation.
The individual time trial will be held at the third day of competition. The individual exercise will take place in Sagres and will have a distance of 20 km.
The sprinters will have another chance to shine on the fourth stage, a flat travel from Almodôvar to Tavira.
The 43rd Volta ao Algarve will end with the queen stage, from Loulé to the top of Malhão, the mythic climb of Algarve (2,5 km at 9,4%).
The Volta ao Algarve is an event with a big mediatic buzz in Portugal and all around the World. The last edition motivated more than 300 news on the portuguese radio, television and newspapers and more than 500 journalistic pieces in 27 diferent countries.
During the five days of the 2016 edition of the race, the official webpage received 1.554.000 visits and the official facebook reached 917.000 people.
2017 Stages
Stage 1: Albufeira – Lagos
Stage 2: Lagoa – Fóia (Monchique)
Stage 3: Sagres – Sagres (ITT)
Stage 4: Almodôvar – Tavira
Stage 5: Loulé – Malhão
Last stage winners in:
Lagos
2011 – John Degenkolb (HTC-High Road)
2010 – André Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia)
2009 – Koldo Fernández (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
Fóia
2016 – Luis León Sánchez (Astana)
2002 – Alex Zülle (Team Coast)
2001 – José Azevedo (ONCE)
Sagres
2016 – Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo)
2015 – Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep)
2014 – Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)
Tavira
2016 – Marcel Kittel (Etixx-QuickStep)
2013 – Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)
2012 – Gerald Ciolek (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)
Malhão
2016 – Alberto Contador (Tinkoff)
2015 – Richie Porte (Sky)
2014 – Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo)
Last Winners of the Volta ao Algarve
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)
2007 – Alessandro Petacchi (Milram)