VAN AERT AND EVENEPOEL CROSS SWORDS IN THE ROUND OF ALGARVE
The organization can count on a very strong starting field including our compatriots Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel, who both want to turn the good feeling after an intense training period into first results. Remco has already had his first outing in the Figueira Champions Classic, but it remains to be seen whether he will be able to do so again in this field. That it will be a serious test is in any case a certainty.
Latest winners of the Tour of the Algarve
A look at the list of winners of the Tour of the Algarve reveals the names of Remco Evenepoel, Michal Kwiatkowski, Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic and Geraint Thomas, among others. It immediately shows the value of this race for the top riders in the peloton.
2023 Daniel Felipe Martínez
2022 Remco Evenepoel
2021 Joao Rodrigues
2020 Remco Evenepoel
2019 Tadej Pogacar
2018 Michal Kwiatkowski
2017 Primoz Roglic
2016 Geraint Thomas
2015 Geraint Thomas
2014 Michal Kwiatkowski
Last season, Colombian Daniel Felipe Martínez was two seconds faster than his teammate Filippo Ganna over the entire course. They are there again this year and will meet a field of participants that looks more punishing than in 2023.
Tour of the Algarve 2024
The Algarve will host a mishmash of one-day racers, time trialists, climbers and true tour riders. Ben Healy, Tom Pidcock, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Marc Hirschi, Sergio Higuita, Thymen Arensman, Sepp Kuss, Wout Van Aert, Tiesj Benoot, Jan Tratnik, Daniel Felipe Martinez, Stefan Küng, Valentin Madouas, Rui Costa, Mikel Landa and the top favorite for the overall victory, Remco Evenepoel color the field of participants with flying colors.
The race route
Stage 1, Wednesday, February 14: Portimao – Lagos (200.8 km)
The Tour of the Algarve starts immediately with a stage of more than two hundred kilometers. Portimao is the start location after which it will be in an almost flat stage to the arrival city of Lagos. The two hills that come under the wheels on the way should normally not be a problem for the sprinters. Immediately a chance for Wout van Aert to take the leader’s jersey or will Jordi Meeus pull ahead?
Climbs
37.6 km: Aldeia dos Matos (1.9 km at 5.2%)
96,5 km: Nave (5,9 km a 4,2%)
Times – Portuguese time
Start: 11.45 am
Finish: 4:45 p.m.
Stage 2, Thursday, Feb. 15: Lagoa – Alto de Foia (171.9 km)
This second stage will take riders over 171.9 kilometers from Lagoa to the top of the Alto de Foia. This climb is on the program of the Tour of the Algarve for the eighth year in a row. The climb is 7.5 kilometers at 5.9 percent and is normally not tough enough to ride off men like Wout Van Aert or Tom Pidcock. So here’s already a second chance for Van Aert to show himself. Or has Remco Evenepoel something big in mind here?
Climbs
77.7 km: Alto de Choca (1.8 km at 6.2%)
146,2 km: Alferce (3 km a 7,1%)
158,2 km: Pomba (3,8 km at 7,9%)
171,9 km: Alto de Foia (7,5 km a 5,9%)
Times – Portuguese time
Start: 12:00 pm
Finish: 4:30 p.m.
Stage 3, Friday, Feb. 16: Vila Real de Santo Antonio – Tavira (192.2 km)
This stage covers 192.2 km from Villa Real de Santo Antonio to Tavira. Here again the sprinters are celebrating. So again Van Aert or Meeus? Yet also keep an eye out for racers like Arnaud Démare and Soren Waerenskjold.
Climbs
103.4 km: Alcaria (2.3 km a 6.%)
148.0 km: Faz Fato (4.7 km a 3.3%)
Times – Portuguese time
Start: 12:00 pm
Finish: 4:45 p.m.
Stage 4, Saturday, Feb. 17: Albufeira – Albufeira (22 km, time trial)
This is traditionally a time trial where the difference will be made in the overall classification. Around the seaside resort of Albufeira, there are 22 kilometers of fighting the wind with also some tough short calf bites as an intermediate stage on the program. Who will win here? Gana, Kung, Evenepoel or Van Aert?
Times – Portuguese time
Start: 3:20 p.m.
Stage 5, Sunday, Feb. 18: Faro – Alto de Malhao (165.8 km)
The final day of the Tour of the Algarve is also by tradition a stage to the top of the Alto de Malhao. The riders will start in Faro and it will be a difficult stage over almost 166 km in which it is always up and down. At the end of the stage the Alto de Malhao has to be conquered twice. This climb is a tough one with 2.6 km at an average of 9.2%. After this stage everyone will know how fit they are and what they need to work on for the rest of the season.
Climbs
43.8 km: Picota (3.0 km at 6.0%)
99.0 km: Vermelhos (3.3 km at 5.8%)
128.3 km: Alte (2.4 km a 6.8%)
141,8 km: Alto de Malhao (2,6 km a 9,2%)
165,8 km: Alto de Malhao (2,6 km a 9,2%)
Times- Portuguese time
Start: 11.35am
Finish: 3:45 pm
