Volta ao Algarve: 752.9km divided into 5 stages and a new 22km ITT in Albufeira are the appetizers for 2024

The 50th edition of the Volta ao Algarve, on the road from February 14 to 18, 2024, will start in Portimão, with the winners crowned at the top of Malhão, Loulé. A completely new time trial in Albufeira is on the way, the Portuguese Cycling Federation said today;

These are the innovations of the 50th edition of Portugal's most renowned cycling stage race, which will cover 752.9 kilometers - with a cumulative distance of 14,455 meters - over five stages, between February 14 and 18 next year.

It's a repeat of the 2022 finish in Malhão, when Belgian Remco Evenepoel won the Volta ao Algarve. The longest stage will be the very first one, from Portimão to Lagos in 200.8 kilometers, a finish that is already customary and will certainly be contested in a sprint.

The fight for the general classification will have its first decisive moment in the second stage, between Lagoa and Alto da Fóia, which is 171.9 km long. The finish line, at the highest point in the Algarve, will be preceded by three other mountain passes, two of them in a row, in order to harden and select the race before the final climb. These are the climbs of Alferce (3rd category) and Pomba (2nd category), this one just 6300 meters from the start of the final climb to the finish line.

On the third day, the peloton will cover 192.2 kilometers between Vila Real de Santo António and Tavira, with a flat finish and another opportunity for the fast men to fight for victory.

However, it will be on the fourth day of competition that we'll have the big novelty of this Algarve race, a 22.2-kilometer individual time trial between the Marina and Albufeira Town Hall. This time trial will take place on a permanent uphill and downhill course, giving the pure specialists a chance without completely shutting out the complete cyclists who adapt to the individual effort.

The overall accounts will only be settled on the fifth and final stage of 165.8 kilometers between Faro and Alto do Malhão. The finish coincides with a second category mountain prize. At 24 kilometers from the finish line, the peloton will make the first ascent to Malhão, having passed the mountain passes of Vermelhos (km 99) and Alte (km 128.3).

Thirteen teams are already confirmed: Alpecin-Deceuninck (Belgium), Arkea-B&B Hotels (France), Astana Qazaqstan Team (Kazakhstan), BORA-hansgrohe (Germany), EF Education-EasyPost (USA), Groupama-FDJ (France), Lidl-Trek (USA), Soudal Quick-Step (Belgium), Team dsm-firmenich PostNL (Netherlands), UAE Team Emirates (United Arab Emirates), Caja Rural-Seguros RGA (Spain), Tudor Pro Cycling (Switzerland) and Uno-X Mobility (Norway).