Where: Algarve, Portugal
Rank: UCI 2.HC
The Volta ao Algarve is a five-day stage race that takes place every year in the early racing season, generally appearing on the calendar in February.
The race, which has run since 1960 and is now part of the UCI Europe Tour, has become popular with climbers, sprinters and time triallists because of it's varied stages. It also offers an alternative to the Ruta del Sol stage race in Spain, which is heavily geared towards the lightweight men of peloton.
Still, the race isn't usually without it's climbing tests, however the time trial has often proven just as decisive as any hills that appear on the route.
The first three decades of the Volta ao Algarve's existence were dominated by wins for home Portuguese riders, but in recent years big names like Alberto Contador, Tony Martin and Geraint Thomas have all taken multiple victories.
The most recent winner of the race, Slovenia's Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) took his GC advantage after an impressive time trial performance, like many of the riders who have won in recent years.
Volta ao Algarve recent winners
2007 Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) Team Milram
2008 Stijn Devolder (BEL) Quick-Step
2009 Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana
2010 Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana
2011 Tony Martin (GER) HTC–Highroad
2012 Richie Porte (AUS) Team Sky
2013 Tony Martin (GER) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step
2014 Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) Omega Pharma–Quick-Step
2015 Geraint Thomas (GBR) Team Sky
2016 Geraint Thomas (GBR) Team Sky
2017 Primož Roglič (SLO) LottoNL–Jumbo
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'It's a joke' - Stage cancelled after peloton goes wrong way in bizarre Volta ao Algarve sprint finish
Safety concerns raised after sprinters follow deviation off course
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Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert impress in Portugal ahead of bigger tests
Evenepoel starts season in fine form ahead of Tour de France debut this summer
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Why are teams wearing TT helmets in road races?
Time trial helmets aren't just for time trialling, as Uno-X will testify
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'Mostly for those in their 40s and 50s': I'm 28 but I still think this stage race has a mad playlist that you need to listen to
With everything from Arcade Fire to Tina Turner, it's got something for everyone - almost. Plus, a lot of Portuguese music
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Five things we learned from an action packed week of stage racing in Europe
Ineos Grenadiers reign in Portugal, Tadej Pogačar might be unstoppable and there's an unexpected winner at Valenciana
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'Motorpaced peloton' catches breakaway close to finish as complaints over drafting continue
Complaints about drafting in races have continued after a breakaway was caught at the Volta ao Algarve apparently after the peloton was allowed to draft.
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Cees Bol overpowers Quick-Step with huge sprint on stage three of the Volta ao Algarve 2020
Cees Bol was the first rider to deny Quick-Step in the Volta ao Algarve as he took stage three with a stunning sprint.
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Geraint Thomas continues to lead Volta ao Algarve after Dylan Groenewegen wins stage four
Dylan Groenewegen takes his second stage win of the 2018 Volta ao Algarve as Geraint Thomas leads the race going into Sunday's final stage
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Remco Evenepoel stuns rivals with summit finish victory on stage two of the Volta ao Algarve 2020
The 20-year-old sets himself up for a second overall race victory already this year
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Michal Kwiatkowski wins climbing stage of Volta ao Algarve, as Geraint Thomas takes lead
Team Sky dominate on final climb of stage two of the 2018 Volta ao Algarve, putting Geraint Thomas into the race lead
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Geraint Thomas retains Tour of the Algarve lead as Richie Porte wins stage
Welshman Geraint Thomas looks good for overall victory in the 2015 Volta ao Algarve, which concludes on Sunday
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Dylan Groenewegen continues strong start to season with Volta ao Algarve stage one win
Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen adds to stage win at the Dubai Tour with early race lead in the 2018 Volta ao Algarve
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'I'm not in my best shape yet': Remco Evenepoel obliterates stage five time trial to seal Volta ao Algarve victory
The young Belgian impressed once again as he takes the biggest stage race win of his career so far
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Dan Martin takes his first victory of the season and overall lead at Volta ao Algarve
Dan Martin (Quick-Step Floors) took his first and his team's tenth victory of the season as he moved into the overall lead at the Volta ao Algarve.
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Fabio Jakobsen pushes past Elia Viviani to take stage one of the Volta ao Algarve 2020
Youth trumped experience in the Volta ao Algarve 2020 as Fabio Jakobsen pushed past Elia Viviani to take stage one.
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Geraint Thomas solos to win Tour of the Algarve stage two
Welshman Geraint Thomas takes Volta ao Algarve race lead after stage victory
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Volta ao Algarve start list: Mathieu van der Poel, Rohan Dennis and Vincenzo Nibali set to ride
The Volta ao Algarve is just around the corner and there will be some strong competition in the early season test.
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Alberto Contador wins Tour of Algarve stage four
Michal Kwiatkowski retains overall lead after placing third behind Alberto Contador on mountain stage
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Geraint Thomas the penultimate man off in Friday's Volta ao Algarve time trial
The 18km time trial in Sagres will likely not be decisive in the Volta ao Algarve but Geraint Thomas could move into the leader's jersey on stage three
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André Greipel wins stage four of Volta ao Algarve in photo finish
André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) won stage four of the Volta ao Algarve, requiring a photo finish to confirm his victory over John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo).
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Cavendish to the Tour of Algarve with Renshaw and Petacchi
Cavendish to once again line up with Mark Renshaw and Alessandro Petacchi - Omega Pharma lead out train to continue at the Tour of Algarve - Five stage race in Portugal has possibly two sprint stages
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Geraint Thomas: I felt the pressure a lot more in second Algarve victory
Geraint Thomas sealed his second successive Volta ao Algarve title on Sunday and says second time round there was a lot more pressure on him to perform
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Geraint Thomas wins the Volta ao Algarve
British Sky rider Geraint Thomas secures overall victory in Vola ao Algarve after a solid performance on the final climbing stage in Portugal, won by Alberto Contador
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Sacha Modolo continues winning streak in Tour of the Algarve
Lampre-Merida sprinter Sacha Modolo wins opening stage of the 2014 Volta ao Algarve
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Remco Evenepoel dedicates Algarve stage win to fellow Belgian rider whose son died last week
Remco Evenepoel dedicated his Volta ao Algarve stage victory to a fellow Belgian rider whose son died last week.
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Volta ao Algarve 2020 TV guide
The Volta ao Algarve 2020 gets underway soon, so we’ve put together a TV guide so you don’t miss out on any of the action.
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Movistar's Castroviejo fractures vertebra and arm in crash after final Tour of Algarve stage
Jonathan Castroviejo collides with a spectator as he descends from the finish line of the final stage of the Volta ao Algarve and fractures his arm and a vertebra
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Fernando Gaviria too fast for Greipel and Bouhanni in opening Volta ao Algarve stage
Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) chalked up his third victory of the season at the Volta ao Algarve, outsprinting Grepiel and Bouhanni in Portugal.
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Young star Tadej Pogačar bests world class climbers on stage two of Volta ao Algarve 2019
The Tour de l’Avenir winner starts his WorldTour career with a bang
