Results Volta ao Algarve 2026 | Just like Pogacar - Paul Seixas takes first pro win on the same climb; outsprinting Ayuso and Almeida

Stage 2 of the Volta ao Algarve delivered fireworks. The Alto da Fóia was climbed, and three riders stood out from the rest. Paul Seixas, at age 19, has taken his first pro win on the same climb where Tadej Pogacar did the same seven years ago. The Decathlon CMA CGM Team rider is the new race leader after beating Juan Ayuso and João Almeida in a dramatic finale.

The second stage of the race could be considered the queen stage on paper, with the riders facing the summit finish at the Alto da Fóia. The climb, a regular for many years now in the southern Portuguese race, was climbed through a road that hadn't previously been ridden before, with the final climb being 8.8 kilometers long, averaging 6.2% but having two sections that were to be considerably steeper.

The breakaway of the day was formed by eight riders: Hugo Nunes, German Nicolás Tivani, Alexandre Montez, Enzo Leinjse, Gorka Sorarrain, Tomas Contte, Iker Bonillo and Leangel Linarez. The peloton comfortably controlled them and, with the absence of any major climb before the final ascent this year, it was a slow build until the base of the Fóia.

The riders entered it at full speed however, with a proper leadout battle in the kilometers leading into it; and Lidl-Trek taking the head of the race right away setting a very high pace for Juan Ayuso. With 4 kilometers to go the peloton was still quite big as the climb lacked the gradients, but as soon as the riders entered one of the difficult sections, Juan Ayuso hit the front, followed by João Almeida and Paul Seixas. Shortly after Seixas hit the front and his acceleration saw Almeida get distanced. The Portuguese came back; and with 1.7 kilometers to go Oscar Onley and Matthew Riccitello also bridged across to the front.

Almeida hit the front with 1 kilometer to go but his accelerations were followed by Ayuso and Seixas. The Frenchman then began his sprint first and had the speed to hold off Ayuso in the end in what was almost a photo-finish sprint. Almeida sprinted to third, although the gaps between the five were almost non-existent.