Where: Algarve, Portugal
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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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
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Mark Cavendish wins final stage of Tour of the Algarve
Manx Missile Mark Cavendish takes first victory of the year as team-mate Michal Kwiatkowski wins overall
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Geraint Thomas wins Volta ao Algarve time trial to increase overall lead
Welshman Geraint Thomas puts in blistering performance to claim stage three of the 2018 Volta ao Algarve and strengthen his race lead
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Volta ao Algarve 2021 postponed due to coronavirus
The 2021 Volta ao Algarve has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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'This has to stop!' - Riders slam drafting behind motorbikes in races
Riders have take to Twitter to voice their anger over motorbikes offering a draft to riders in the Ruta del Sol, Volta ao Algarve and Tour of Oman this week.
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Geraint Thomas, Ben Swift and Andy Fenn in Tour of the Algarve
British riders Thomas, Fenn and Swift start the 2015 Volta ao Algarve in support of Sky team leader Richie Porte
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Miguel Ángel López takes stage four win as Remco Evenepoel closes in on GC at Volta ao Algarve
The young Belgian has just an individual time trial between him and his second overall victory of the season
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FC Porto score summit finish victory at Volta ao Algarve as Primoz Roglic wins overall
Amaro Antunes netted the victory on stage five of the Portuguese race as Primoz Roglic safely held his advantage in GC
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Michal Kwiatkowski solos to win Tour of the Algarve stage two
Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider Michal Kwiatkowski holds off the charging Alberto Contador and world champion Rui Costa after bold attack
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Sam Bennett sprints to stage one victory at Volta ao Algarve 2021 after yet another perfect lead-out
Sam Bennett took the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve 2021 after his team nailed the timing of the lead-out yet again for their star fast man beating Danny Van Poppel and Jon Aberasturi.
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Primoz Roglic takes Volta ao Algarve lead as Dan Martin drops out of contention
Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) took over the overall lead at the Volta ao Algarve as Dan Martin fell out of overall contention in stage three time trial.
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Geraint Thomas second behind Luis Leon Sanchez on Volta ao Algarve stage two
Welshman Geraint Thomas puts in solid ride on tough summit finale of stage two of the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal
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Geraint Thomas gives update on his early-season form
Geraint Thomas says he is already lighter than this time last year, while his power numbers look ‘encouraging.’
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Geraint Thomas wins 2015 Volta ao Algarve; André Greipel gets final stage victory
-Team Sky's Thomas finishes safely to seal the overall -Greipel sprints to first win of the season Photos by Graham Watson
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Geraint Thomas increases lead in Tour of the Algarve
Geraint Thomas places third in the Volta ao Algarve time trial to retain overall lead with two stages remaining
