The organization of the 50th Volta ao Algarve honors Geraint Thomas with the Prestige Award

Today sees the start of the 50th edition of the Volta ao Algarve cycling race, a five-day event that will take place on Portuguese roads until next Sunday.

All the athletes taking part in this edition of the race are already known, but there is one in particular who will be the center of attention in the "Algarvia". The 38-year-old Welshman from Ineos Grenadiers, Geraint Thomas, will be starting his 18th season as a professional cyclist at the Volta ao Algarve, a race he has won twice, in 2015 and 2016 in the Sky jersey.

The organization chose the Welshman from INEOS because he is "one of the active cyclists with the most impressive record", highlighting among his achievements the victory in the Tour de France (2018), where he was runner-up in 2019 and third in 2022, second place in last year's Tour of Italy and also the two Olympic golds on the track (in the team pursuit, in Beijing 2008 and London 2012).

'G', as he is known, is one of the most charismatic and popular cyclists in the peloton and will receive the award before the start of the stage that will begin in Lagoa next Thursday.

2016 - Fabian Cancellara and Alberto Contador

2017 - Tony Martin

2018 - Philippe Gilbert

2020 - Vincenzo Nibali

2021 - Sérgio Paulinho

2222 - Hilaire van der Schueren ( DS Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert)

2023 - Alexander Kristoff