Fresh Starts and Home Favourites: Five Riders to Watch at the 2026 Volta ao Algarve

Portugal - Ekhbary News Agency

Fresh Starts and Home Favourites: Five Riders to Watch at the 2026 Volta ao Algarve

The 2026 professional cycling calendar ignites with the 52nd edition of the Volta ao Algarve, a prestigious five-day stage race set to take place from February 18th to February 22nd. This early-season classic, traversing the scenic roads of Portugal from Vila Real de Santo António to Malhão, serves as a crucial proving ground for a multitude of riders embarking on their new campaign. While the headline acts of Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel will be notably absent this year, their predecessors and aspiring successors are poised to deliver a captivating spectacle.

The Volta ao Algarve presents a challenging and varied route designed to test all-round capabilities. It features a demanding 19.5km individual time trial in Vilamoura, two crucial summit finishes at Fóia and Malhão, and two stages favouring sprinters in Tavira and Lagos. This diverse parcours ensures that the race will be decided by a combination of strength, strategy, and endurance, offering opportunities for specialists across different disciplines to shine.

Homegrown Hope and International Contenders

Leading the charge on home soil is Portugal's own João Almeida. The 27-year-old UAE Team Emirates rider, who finished as runner-up in last year's edition, will undoubtedly be a major favourite to claim victory. Almeida, a consistent performer in Grand Tours, brings a formidable palmarès that includes victories at the Itzulia Basque Country, Tour de Suisse, and Tour de Pologne in 2025. He has already signaled his strong form by securing second place at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana earlier this month, making him a prime candidate to add the Algarve title to his collection.

Almeida's challenge will be met by a host of international stars. Sprinters will be eager to make their mark on the flat stages, with names like Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step), and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) expected to contend for victories. Meanwhile, the time trial specialists will focus their efforts on the Vilamoura test, where Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) and Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) are likely to be among the frontrunners.

The Next Generation Steps Up

Beyond the established names, the Volta ao Algarve serves as a vital platform for emerging talents. French prodigy Paul Seixas (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) is set to commence his 2026 season in Portugal. After a remarkable 2025 season that saw him win the Tour de l'Avenir and achieve top-10 finishes at the Critérium du Dauphiné and Il Lombardia, the 19-year-old is widely regarded as one of cycling's brightest prospects. Algarve marks the beginning of his journey towards the Ardennes Classics, with races like Strade Bianche and Itzulia Basque Country also on his schedule.

American rider Matthew Riccitello (Ineos Grenadiers), a new signing for 2026, is another young talent to watch. The 23-year-old captured his season debut victory at the Tour de la Provence this week, demonstrating excellent early-season form. He is part of a strong Ineos Grenadiers squad that also features Oscar Onley and Kévin Vauquelin. Both Onley and Vauquelin, who finished fourth and seventh respectively at the 2025 Tour de France, are major acquisitions for Ineos and are expected to be strong contenders for the General Classification, alongside Thymen Arensman.

Spanish sensation Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) is also making his debut with a new team at the Volta ao Algarve. Following a challenging but ultimately successful 2025 season, which included wins at Tirreno-Adriatico and multiple Grand Tour stages, Ayuso aims for greater consistency with his new squad. The Algarve race is the first of several key stage races in his spring calendar, leading up to the Ardennes Classics and a potential Tour de France debut later in the year.

Furthermore, Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) is set to make his 2026 stage race debut. As a co-leader for the Tour de France alongside Remco Evenepoel, Lipowitz demonstrated his immense potential by finishing third overall and winning the best young rider classification at the 2025 Tour de France. He is considered one of the biggest favourites for the overall victory in Algarve, leading a strong Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe lineup that includes 2023 race winner Daniel Martínez.

With a compelling mix of seasoned champions, ambitious sprinters, time trial specialists, and the next generation of cycling superstars, the 2026 Volta ao Algarve is poised to be a thrilling start to the season. The race promises fierce competition, strategic battles, and the emergence of new heroes on the Portuguese roads.

Ekhbary News Agency