Preview Volta ao Algarve 2026 stage 2 - Almeida, Ayuso, INEOS and BORA headline key mountain finish

The 2026 Volta ao Algarve will take place from the 18th to 22nd of February, and as is the case every year, will be one of the most fought out early-season stage-races. It features stages for the sprinters, climbers, timetrialists and classics specialists all to fight for results and work on their form. We preview stage 2, which is set to start and finish at 12:00 and 17:30CET.

The 'Algarvia' is Portugal's most prestigious international race, and a race with immense amount of history as well as many different phases. Its first edition was in 1936, won by Joaquim Fernandes, but it would have to wait until 1960 to have its second edition. After three consecutive years, the event took another large break and only in 1977 was the event finally on its tracks and taking place on a yearly basis. Until 1997, it was a race that was won by Portuguese riders, with the exception of the Brasilian Cássio Freitas.

Many of the country's best, some of which remain very active in the current peloton as team owners or event organizers, can be found ont he list of winners such as Joaquim Andrade, Joaquim Gomes, Fernando Carvalho, Vitor Gamito and Cândido Barbosa. In 2000, Alex Zulle won the race, coming from a second place at the previous year's Tour de France. The race at this time transitioned into an event where more and more the international teams took control over the top results, and the startlists began showing more quality than even a large part of the World Tour calendar.

Floyd Landis won it back in 2004; Alessandro Petacchi won it in 2007; Stijn Devolder won it in 2008 ahead of his first Tour of Flanders win; Alberto Contador won it in 2009 and 2010 - building on two Tour de France wins... And the list of winners has simply not had a single miss when it came to huge talents (except for the 2021 triumph of João Rodrigues who was later suspended for doping.

Tony Martin, Richie Porte, Michal Kwiatkowski, Geraint Thomas, Primoz Roglic, Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel (on three occasions), Daniel Martínez and Jonas Vingegaard have been the riders who have won this race since 2020. These riders have won multiple Tour de France editions, all Grand Tours; multiple world titles both on the road and time trial; and several of them have been the most dominating figures of their respective (and current) generations. It is a race where just making it onto the podium is often a monumental task. In 2025, Jonas Vingegaard beat João Almeida in the race after winning the final time trial into the Alto do Malhão.

Potentially the queen stage this year, over the time trial, the second day of racing from Portimão to the Alto da Fóia is going to be a key day for the overall classification. The run-up to the final ascent is easier than previous years, but as always it is hilly.

The final climb is familiar by name, but don't expect to see the same roads. The Alto da Fóia can be climbed through many different routes, as is the case with many of Portugal's mountains, and although the riders climb it from Monchique once again this year, they have not climbed this side before in recent years.

The ascent will be 8.8 kilometers long at 6.2% but will perhapse be the side that suits the climbers best out of all alternatives, as both the start of the climb and the final half feature long sections at almost 10% that stretch out long enough to put in serious attacks. It's a rather inconsistent climb, but we can see the climbers make meaningful differences here.

*** João Almeida, Juan Ayuso, Daniel Martínez
** Brandon McNulty, Matthew Riccitello, Oscar Onley
* António Morgado, Florian Lipowitz, Max Schachmann, Paul Seixas, Kévin Vauquelin, Thymen Arensman, Jarno Widar, Tom Gloag, Max Poole

Pick: Daniel Martínez

How: Sprint amongst those who climb the best.