CyclistVolta ao Algarve 2026 preview: Route, favourites, how to watch and start listAfter the European openers in Spain and France, the peloton moves to the southern coast of Portugal for the 2026 Volta ao Algarve. Starting on Wednesday 18th February, the five-day stage race looks poised to be a decisive battle for the GC contenders in this early-season period.Last years edition was a closely fought contest between a host of star names, including Jonas Vingegaard, Joo Almeida and Primo Rogli. In the overall standings, the Dane would come out victorious, with the home nations Almeida in second and Ineos rider Laurens De Plus in third.The 2025 champion has decided to skip this years Volta ao Algarve, leaving Joo Almeida to start as favourite for the title. Hell be alongside a fleet of riders targeting the 2026 Tour de France later this year as Florian Lipowitz, Oscar Onley and Juan Ayuso bid for the yellow jersey.Volta ao Algarve 2026 key informationJoo Calado/FPCDate:18th-22nd February 2026Start: Vila Real de Santo Antnio Finish:Malho (Loul)Stages:5Distance:673.7km2024 winner:Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)Live television coverage:TNT Sports, Discovery+, RTVE, FloBikes, HBO Max, EurosportVolta ao Algarve 2026 route and stage-by-stage previewThe parcours for this years Volta ao Algarve offers a well-balanced mix of profiles, with two stages suited to the sprinters, two for the climbers, and an individual time-trial for equal measure.It all begins in the eastern tip of the region towards the Spanish border, where the sprinters will get a shot at stage victory in Tavira. The following day, the race heads further down the coast for the first summit finish of the week at the Alto de Fia.The GC will receive another shake-up on Stage 4 as the riders navigate a flat 19km time-trial in Vilamoura, followed by one last sprint into Lagos. That leaves one last mountaintop finish at the end of Stage 5, which loops around the centrepiece climb of Malho. Related Posts We predict every men's WorldTour race in 2026 What to expect from every mens WorldTour team in 2026 Is 2026 make or break for JooAlmeida? UAE Tour Men 2026 preview: Route, favourites, how to watch and start list Stage 1, Wednesday 18th February, Vila Real de Santo Antnio Tavira, 183kmThe race gets underway in the border town of Vila Real Santo Antonio. The first 50km will skirt along the Spanish frontier before turning towards the coast for a succession of two hills. The riders will pass through Vila Real Santo Antonio for a golden kilometre, featuring three bonus second sprints, before heading west towards Tavira on flat roads.Stage 2, Thursday 19th February, Portimo Fia, 147kmThe second stage starts along the coast in Portimo, known for its motorsport track. The first two-thirds of the stage are largely undulating, with a few categorised bumps along the way. After passing through a quick succession of intermediate sprints in Casais and Serenada, the riders will face the Alto de Fia (8.8km at 6.2%). Used in every edition of the Volta ao Algarve since 2017, the peak has crowned Tadej Pogaar and Remco Evenepoel in the past. Last year, UAE Team Emirates XRGs Jan Christen took the stage honours atop Fia.Stage 3, Friday 20th February, Vilamoura Vilamoura, 19.5km (ITT)The time-trial bikes will get an outing on Stage 3 for a 19km race against the clock. The profile offers just 140m of vertical gain, so expect the purists to thrive on this flat test around the marina town of Vilamoura.Stage 4, Saturday 21st February, Albufeira Lagos, 175kmWe head to the holiday town of Albufeira for the start of Stage 4. The route wraps around the western part of the region, with another golden kilometre on offer at Alzejur, the races most westerly point. From there, the race returns to the southern coast for an expected sprint in Lagos, a frequent host city for the Volta ao Algarve.Stage 5, Sunday 22nd February, Faro Malho, 148kmThe final stage heads out from the regional capital of Faro. After a brief run-in with the coast, the peloton will turn inland for a relentless final 60km, which features four classified climbs as part of a finishing circuit. The loop covers Soidos (2.1km at 7%) first, then the Alto do Malho (2.7km at 8.9%), just 10km after the summit. On the final lap, the Malho will serve as a summit finish.The Alto do Malho has welcomed the Volta ao Algarve on each edition since 2009. While Tom Pidcock and Jonas Vingegaard appear on this mountains roll of honour, Alberto Contador is the most successful visitor, having won here on three occasions.Volta ao Algarve 2026 favouritesJoo Calado/FPCTheres a host of top stage racing names at this years Volta ao Algarve. Given our early point in the season, many GC contenders will be using the event as a chance to get their 2026 season underway.One of those riders is Ayuso, who will be using the race to make his debut in Lidl-Trek colours. The Spaniard should perform well in the two punchy finales and the 19km race against the clock. Hell also want to prove himself after leaving UAE Team Emirates XRG in tense fashion last autumn.We shouldnt discountAlmedia either. At his countrys biggest stage race, the UAE rider will be highly motivated to finally add this race to his palmars. Recent form from the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana suggests hell be in contention for a podium, with a similar pair of support riders in Brandon McNulty and Felix Groschartner. Regardless, seeing Almeida go head-to-head with Ayuso will also be an interesting storyline to follow after the pairs escapades over the last few seasons as teammates.Among the other names here, look towards Ineos debutants Onley and Kvin Vauquelin, last years white jersey winner Lipowitz and youngster Paul Seixas to light up proceedings at this years Volta ao Algarve.Cyclists ratings: JooAlmeida (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek): Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Oscar Onley (Ineos Grenadiers): Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), Kvin Vauquelin (Ineos Grenadiers), Danel Martinez (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM), Matthew Riccitello (Decathlon-CMA CGM): Maximilian Schachmann (Soudal-QuickStep): Jarno Widar (Lotto-Intermarch), Yannis Voisard (Tudor Pro Cycling), Felix Groschartner (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Max Poole (Picnic-PostNL)How to watch Volta ao Algarve 2026Joo Calado/FPCViewers in the UK can only watch the Volta ao Algarve on TNT Sports, which is available to stream through Discovery+. Every stage will be aired on TNT Sports 1, often after the conclusion of both the UAE Tour and the Vuelta a Andalucia.Elsewhere, FloBikes has the coverage across Canada, while most of Europe will be able to tune in via Eurosport or its streaming services Discovery+ or HBO Max. For free-to-air coverage in Portugal, all five stages will be broadcast on RTP.If the race isnt being broadcast in your country, or you are travelling abroad, a VPN will allow you to hide your devices location to access content that is normally geo-blocked. Read more:How to watch cycling for less in the UKRead more: Which countries can watch cycling for free in 2026?UK TV timesStage 1, Wednesday 18th FebruaryTNT Sports 1:15:0017:00Discovery+: 15:0017:00Stage 2, Thursday 19th FebruaryTNT Sports 1:15:0017:00Discovery+: 15:0017:00Stage 3, Friday 20th FebruaryTNT Sports 1:15:0017:00Discovery+: 15:0017:00Stage 4, Saturday 21st FebruaryTNT Sports 1:14:3015:45Discovery+:14:3015:45Stage 5, Sunday 22nd FebruaryTNT Sports 1:14:3015:45Discovery+:14:3015:45International broadcastersCanada:FloBikesEurope:Eurosport (not UK and Ireland)Portugal:RTP, EurosportUnited Kingdom:TNT SportsUSA: MaxVolta ao Algarve 2026 startlistJoo Calado/FPCData powered by FirstCycling.comThe post Volta ao Algarve 2026 preview: Route, favourites, how to watch and start list appeared first on Cyclist.