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Early form under the Portuguese sun: The Volta ao Algarve gets underway
Five days of intense racing, a versatile course profile and a touch of Grand Tour flair – bem-vindo ao Algarve.
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With the Volta ao Algarve, one of the first European stage races of the season kicks off. Held in parallel with the Ruta del Sol –just around 300 kilometers away in neighboring Andalusia– the Portuguese race offers many riders their first true benchmark of the year.
The route promises variety: two sprint opportunities, a demanding summit finish in Foia, an individual time trial midway through the race, and a rolling final stage that leaves room for surprises. Set against the stunning backdrop of Portugal’s southern Atlantic coast, the race combines all elements into a format that almost feels like a mini Grand Tour.
A versatile line-up with clear roles
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe heads into the race with a well-balanced and flexible squad.
Jordi Meeus makes his 2026 debut and returns to the Algarve with fond memories. A year ago, he celebrated the team’s first win of the season on these very roads. This time, the race serves as his first competitive test of form. Together with fellow Belgian Arne Marit, the focus will be on fine-tuning the sprint lead-out under race conditions. Gianni Vermeersch completes the Belgian trio, bringing valuable experience and power to the fast finishes – potentially right from the opening stage.
Arne Marit
© Getty Images
From stage two onwards, attention increasingly shifts toward the general classification. Florian Lipowitz arrives in the Algarve following a successful start at the team time trial in Mallorca and a subsequent training block aligned with his season build-up. The race represents an important stepping stone on the road to the major stage races later this year.
TTT on Mallorca
© Getty Images
Dani Martínez has also demonstrated strong early-season form at the recent Figueira Classic, showing he is ready for the first demanding European races of the campaign.
Experience for every race scenario
With Jan Tratnik and Nico Denz, the team can rely on two seasoned road captains. Both provide stability and composure in hectic race situations and will look to make their mark – particularly in the individual time trial.
The stage is set for five intense days in southern Portugal—a first serious test of the season under the Algarve sun.
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