Where: Algarve, Portugal
When: February
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
Latest
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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.
