The 43rd Volta ao Algarve (15 to 19 February) will have five stages and a total of 772,8 kilometers. The final design of the stages confirms the Volta ao Algarve as a great race for the beggining of the season, with opportunities to all kind of riders.
The race will be similar to the last editions offering two chances for sprinters, one individual time trial and two uphill finishes. A complet rider will probably win the Volta ao Algarve, but we also expect to see in the south of the Portugal some of the best sprinters, time trialists and classics specialists of the international peloton.
The first stage will link Albufeira to Lagos by a 182,9 kilometers flat route. The sprints should show their strength.
The riders who pretend to wear the final yellow jersey have their first test on the second stage, 189,3 kilometers from Lagoa to the Fóia, the highest point of Algarve (900 meters). The climb to the finish line has 9,1 kilometers and a medium gradient of 6,2 per cent. The first kilometer of the climb is the steepest with a medium gradient of 9,6 per cent.
The third stage is a flat individual time trial of 18 kilometers around Sagres. The route is the same of last year.
The fourth stage is the longest of the competition with 203,4 kilometers from Almodôvar to Tavira. It is the second chance for sprinters.
The 2017 Volta ao Algarve will end with a 179,2 kilometers stage from Loulé to the top of Malhão (2,8 km with a medium gradient of 8,9 per cent). The last 41,5 kilometers include three climbs in a circuit that reminds the Ardennes Classics.
2017 Stages
15 February – 1st Etapa: Albufeira – Lagos, 182,9 km
16 February – 2nd Etapa: Lagoa – Fóia (Monchique), 189,3 km
17 February – 3rd Etapa: Sagres – Sagres (C/R Individual), 18 km
18 February – 4th Etapa: Almodôvar – Tavira, 203,4 km
19 February– 5th Etapa: Loulé – Malhão, 179,2 km
Last 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)