Just four months after his exit from UAE Team Emirates-XRG emerged in the midst of high drama in the Vuelta a España, Juan Ayuso’s debut in Lidl-Trek colours at a significantly overhauled version of the Volta ao Algarve this February will see the Spanish champion take on his former squad for the first time in Portugal’s premier week-long stage race.
Anticipation will be high, too, given Ayuso is set to face off against one of the top racers at UAE Team Emirates, João Almeida, just when Almeida is battling to go one better than his second place overall behind 2025 winner Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike).
Quite apart from Ayuso, Paul Seixas, France’s great new talent with Decathlon CMA CGM team, is another top new name for the Portuguese stage race to follow. More familiar faces include Giro d’Italia winner Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), former double World Champion Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor), Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) and Lotto-Intermarché’s Arnaud De Lie.
Stage 2 looks similar, with the usual summit finish on the Algarve’s highest peak, the Alto da Foía in the Serra de Monchique. But a new, tough Cat.1 mid-stage climb, 8.5kilometres long and with sections of up to 14%, could render this stage far more decisive than usual in the overall.
Stage 5’s ascent of the Alto do Malhão, just 2.6 kilometres long but with some punishingly steep sections and an average gradient of 9.8%, will decide the final winner on February 22.
Volta ao Algarve 2026: the route
- Wednesday February 18: Stage 1: Vila Real de San António – Tavira 185.6km
- Thursday February 19: Stage 2: Portimão – Alto da Foía 157.1km
- Friday February 20: Stage 3:…
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