The Portuguese João Almeida presents himself as the main candidate for victory in the 2026 Volta ao Algarve on bicycle, which starts this Wednesday in Vila Real de Santo António. After second place in the previous edition, the UAE Team Emirates rider takes on a greater role in a race marked by the absence of the 2025 winner, Jonas Vingegaard, and the Visma-Lease a Bike team. The cyclist from A dos Francos arrives in the Algarve after another second place in the Tour of the Valencian Communitythis time behind Remco Evenepoel, maintaining the regularity shown at the beginning of the season.
Among the main opponents is the Spaniard Juan Ayuso, a former teammate who starts the season with Lidl-Trek, in a group of candidates that also includes Florian Lipowitz, Oscar Onley, Daniel Martínez and Matthew Riccitello. Almeida will have the support of a solid block including António Morgado, Ivo Oliveira and Rui Oliveira, as well as Brandon McNulty and Felix Grossschartner.
The race starts with a stage between Vila Real de Santo António and Taviraon a route conducive to reaching the sprintbut with the novelty of the “Golden Kilometer”, a cobblestone sector with three sprints bonuses that can influence leadership from day one. The mountain comes early with the arrival at Fóia, a first-category climb, while the 19.5 kilometer individual time trial in Vilamoura should create differences between favorites.
After a new opportunity for sprinters on the connection between Albufeira and Lagos, the general classification will be decided in the traditional Alto do Malhão. Common peloton made up of 24 teams and five stages over almost 700 kilometers, the 2026 edition is open, but with João Almeida at the center of the discussion for the yellow shirt and the first victory in the Algarve competition.
Leave a Reply