The 48th edition of the Portuguese race will take place between 16-20 February.
Two flat stages, two hilly ones both concluding with a summit finish (Alto da Foia and Alto do Malhão) and a 32.2km individual time trial – one of the longest of the entire season – will make up the course of the Volta ao Algarve. The race was won by our team on four occasions, most recently in 2020, when Remco Evenepoel put in a dominant display that netted him a comfortable victory in the general classification.
The young Belgian will be back at the start, just two weeks after an impressive Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, the first race for which he pinned on a number this season. Victorious on the first stage, Evenepoel went on the finish second in the overall standings and took home the best young rider jersey, after five days of racing during which he played an important role also in the lead-out train that catapulted Fabio Jakobsen to a pair of wins.
The 25-year-old Dutchman, winner of the Algarve points jersey two years ago, will return at the start and target the two flat stages (Lagos and Faro), part of a strong Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl team that is set to include also two ITT National Champions Kasper Asgreen and Yves Lampaert, Tim Declercq, Bert Van Lerberghe and Louis Vervaeke.
“We start again with a very good team. Remco will try to get a good result on the two uphill finishes, but also in the individual time trial, which will be a really nice test. But he isn’t the only one we look forward to see what he can do there, also for Yves and Kasper it will be important, and we’re curious to discover what Louis can do in such a long ITT. For the flat stages, Fabio will be our leader; he has shown his form already in Valencia and will count on Bert to lead him out. And, of course, there’s Tim, who did a very good Saudi Tour and can show his good condition again by controlling the race”, explained sports director Tom Steels.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
