Volta ao Algarve
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
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Five things we learned from the Ruta del Sol, Volta ao Algarve, and Tour of Oman
The Ruta del Sol, Volta ao Algarve, and Tour of Oman all delivered excellent racing, and gave some great pointers as to what to expect later in the year.
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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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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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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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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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'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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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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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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'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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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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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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Three races and three summit finishes: today looks like a great day for cycling fans
Cycling fans rejoice! Today sees multiple summit finishes for the first time this season, with the Ruta del Sol and the Volta ao Algarve on TV later.
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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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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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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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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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Geraint Thomas second behind Luis Leon Sanchez on Volta ao Algarve stage two
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There are a lot of races this week; find out where the big names are riding
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Geraint Thomas wins 2015 Volta ao Algarve; André Greipel gets final stage victory
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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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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
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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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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
