The Volta ao Algarve is ready for main adjustments in 2025, with the historically decisive Malhão summit end street stage changed with a last-day uphill time trial on the identical climb.
The Volta ao Algarve is considered one of Europe’s best-known early-season stage races, often utilized by Classics and stage racing specialists alike to shine their type on the demanding terrain in southern Portugal. Final 12 months Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) received general for a record-equalling third time.
In 2025 Algarve will proceed to be held in late February (19-23) forward of the Opening Weekend of Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Nevertheless, subsequent 12 months’s five-day race route might be a lot tougher all through.
There’s a totally different, tougher ascent to the often-used stage 2 summit end at Alto do Foia, adopted by a really tough, undulating finale to stage 4, after which the Malhão uphill time trial 24 hours later.
The Volta ao Algarve organisers have to this point confirmed the presence of eight WorldTour groups for 2025, together with Ineos Grenadiers, EF-Schooling First and UAE Workforce Emirates and Soudal-QuickStep.
Stage 1: Portimão – Lagos 190km
Profile for stage 1 (Picture credit score: Volta ao Algarve)
Simply as in 2024, the Volta ao Algarve begins with its conventional opening flat stage on Wednesday February 19 between Portimão and Lagos, however the adjustments are fast to observe.
Stage 2: Lagao – Fóia 177.6km
Stage 2 (Picture credit score: Volta ao Algarve)
Stage 2 begins in Lago and finishes on the Fóia, the very best level of the Algarve area at 896 metres above sea degree. Nevertheless, slightly than its common easy southerly ascent averaging round 6% like in 2024, the peloton will come up the Fóia on considered one of its two, a lot harder, northern method roads – with two kilometres ranging between 11% and 15% roughly midway up the climb.
Stage 3: Vila Actual de Santo António – Tavira 183.5km
Stage 3 (Picture credit score: Volta ao Algarve)
Stage 3 is as soon as once more one for the sprinters with two categorised climbs coming mid-stage earlier than the flat end in Tavira after 183.5 kilometres of racing.
Stage 4: Albufeira – Faro 175.2km
Stage 4 (Picture credit score: Volta ao Algarve)
The race organisers name stage 4 “the good unknown of the Volta ao Algarve”.
Working between Albufeira and Faro, and with three late categorised climbs – the ultimate one a Class 4, the Bordeira, with 17 kilometres to go – on uncovered roads, some main GC adjustments may nicely be in retailer.
Stage 5: Salir – Alto do Malhão (ITT) 19.6km
Stage 5 (Picture credit score: Volta ao Algarve)
The ultimate and fifth stage of the Volta ao Algarve has usually been a time trial, often alternating in numerous years with the Alto do Malhão, a climb that has been used as a showdown summit end because it was first launched to the race again in 2003. In 2025, although, and for the primary time ever within the 51-year-old race, the 2 elements – a final summit end and a closing time trial – are mixed.
The flat first 17 kilometre of the stage 5 time trial then culminates with a 2.6-kilometre haul up the Malhão, a brief however very punchy climb with common gradients a punishing 9.2%.
Riders balancing their effort on the better half with such a tough finale will probably show a tough activity to do. However pulling it off efficiently will probably be crucial for the general consequence of the 2025 Volta ao Algarve and the hunt for a worthy successor to final 12 months’s winner, Remco Evenepoel.
