The 45th Volta ao Algarve, the Portuguese 2.HC race which be held from 20 to 24 February, will have 24 teams at the starting line, 12 of them from the WorldTour.

The Volta ao Algarve still as one of the best Europe Tour races with a high level quality peloton. The three best teams of the 2018 WorldTour Ranking will be in Portugal: Deceuninck-Quick Step, Team Sky and Bora-hansgrohe. Joining them the Portuguese fans will see the riders of CCC Team, Groupama-FDJ, Lotto Soudal, Team Dimension Data, Team Katusha Alpecin, Team Jumbo-Visma, Team Sunweb, Trek-Segafredo and UAE Team Emirates.

Four Pro Continental Teams are also confirmed: Wanty-Groupe Gobert and Cofidis, Solutions Crédits, first and second on 2018 European Ranking, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA and W52-FC Porto.

All the eight Portuguese Continental Teams will also start the race: Aviludo-Louletano, Efapel, LA Alumínios-LA Sport, Miranda-Mortágua, Rádio Popular-Boavista, Sporting-Tavira, UD Oliveirense-InOutBuild and Vito-Feirense-PNB.

The temperate weather, the good roads, the excelente hotels and a route with opportunities for all kind of riders are de main ingredients to seduce the top teams to the Volta ao Algarve. The route is similar to the previous years offering 778,6 km with more than 12.000 meters of total elevation gain.

The start will be in Portimão, 2019 European City of Sport, which has not received the competition since 2012. It will the longest stage of the race, with 199.1 kilometers to Lagos. It is expected to be a sprint finish. The second stage begins in Almodôvar and ends at the highest point of the Algarve, the Fóia, in the municipality of Monchique. The riders will face 187.4 kilometers with an elevation gain of 3600 meters. The finish line coincides with a first category mountain.

The Volta ao Algarve still as an important spot for the time trialists try their new bikes. The third stage will be an individual time trial of 20.3 kilometers, with start and finish in Lagoa. The route is the same used in 2018, when Geriant Thomas imposed his strength.

The sprinters will have a new opportunity on the fourth day, with a 198.3 kilometers travel between Albufeira and Tavira. The Volta ao Algarve will end at the top of Malhão, in the municipality of Loulé. The fifth and final stage will have 173.5 kilometers, starting from Faro and arriving at Malhão. The finish line coincides with a second category mountain, a short but very demanding climb – 2.5 kilometers with an average slope of 9.9 per cent.

Teams
WorldTour
Bora-hansgrohe, CCC Team, Deceuninck-Quick Step, Groupama-FDJ, Lotto Soudal, Team Dimension Data, Team Jumbo-Visma, Team Katusha Alpecin, Team Sky, Team Sunweb, Trek-Segafredo and UAE Team Emirates.

Professional Continental
Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Cofidis, W52-FC Porto and Wanty-Groupe Gobert

Continental
Aviludo-Louletano, Efapel, LA Alumínios-LA Sport, Miranda-Mortágua, Rádio Popular-Boavista, Sporting-Tavira, UD Oliveirense-InOutBuild and Vito-Feirense-PNB.

Stages
20 February – 1st Stage: Portimão – Lagos, 199,1 km
21 February – 2nd Stage: Almodôvar – Fóia, 187,4 km
22 February – 3rd Stage: Lagoa – Lagoa, 20,3 km (ITT)
23 February – 4th Stage: Albufeira – Tavira, 198,3 km
24 February – 5th Stage: Faro – Malhão, 173,5 km

Last Winners
2018 – Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky)
2017 – Primoz Roglic (Team Lotto NL-Jumbo)
2016 – Geraint Thomas (Team Sky)
2015 – Geraint Thomas (Team 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)