Preview Volta ao Algarve 2026 - Strong UAE battle against INEOS, Lipowitz and Seixas

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 the race ahead.

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.

The race begins with a challenge for the sprinters as usual, with the race starting in the very eastern edge of the Algarve in Vila Real de Santo António and going on to finish in Tavira. 185 kilometers of mostly flat roads, a day purposefully designed not to be too hard so as to allow the fast men to take the spotlight and battle it out in a high-speed finish to the stage.

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.

Stage 3 is the race's time trial, this year back to its traditional format as a flat individual challenge against the clock. It is 19.5 kilometers long and will be a loop around Vilamoura. The profile can be misleading, it is mostly flat but certainly the riders will not say that, there are small ascents and descents all throughout the stage in which small differences and changes to pacing strategy can be put to place. Not a fully constant effort, as it features some technical areas as well.

Stage 4 is the second and last opportunity for the sprinters, riders that are always prioritized in this race. The stage will be taking place from the city of Albufeira to Lagos, going through 182 kilometers that involve a bit of climbing, but nothing dramatic. It is a stage where the fast men will be able to chase a result in a bunch sprint.

The race finishes, as is usual, on the Alto do Malhão - the region's most famous climb. It is a stage that features its traditional format, not overly difficult but still a day that can be key if the gaps are not too big. Mostly flat on its first half, but in the second we've got some short and sharp climbs that will hurt the legs of many.

The Malhão will be climbed for the first time with 43 kilometers to go, it's 2.6 kilometers long at 9% but features very steep sections. There is a small ascent to Soidos this year which ends with a mere 13 kilometers to go, 2 kilometers at 7%, which does allow for some more tactical racing. The Malhão will then be climbed again, coinciding with the finish, where the climbers can usually make some differences as it's an an all-out effort right from the bottom, not a climb that slowly ramps up to the finish.

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

Pick: Brandon McNulty