The route for the 43rd Volta ao Algarve has been announced.
The race takes place from 15 to 19 February 2017 and for the first time the Volta ao Algarve will be a 2HC race, after several years as a 2.1 race.
The route will keep the profile of the last years, providing a race to crown a complete rider but with opportunities to all kind of cyclists.
The Volta ao Algarve will have two stages adapted to the sprinters needs, two uphill finishes and an individual time trial.
The race will start with a low profile stage from Albufeira to Lagos, where the peloton will find a great place to a spectacular sprint.
The second stage starts at Lagoa and will end at the top of Fóia, the highest point of Algarve, at 902 metres of elevation.
The individual time trial will be held at the third day of competition. The individual exercise will take place in Sagres and will have a distance of 20 km.
The sprinters will have another chance to shine on the fourth stage, a flat travel from Almodôvar to Tavira.
The 43rd Volta ao Algarve will end with the queen stage, from Loulé to the top of Malhão, the mythic climb of Algarve (2,5 km at 9,4%).
2017 Stages
Stage 1: Albufeira – Lagos
Stage 2: Lagoa – Fóia (Monchique)
Stage 3: Sagres – Sagres (ITT)
Stage 4: Almodôvar – Tavira
Stage 5: Loulé – Malhão
Last stage
winners in:
Lagos
2011 – John Degenkolb (HTC-High Road)
2010 – André Greipel (Team HTC-Columbia)
2009 – Koldo Fernández (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
Fóia
2016 – Luis León Sánchez (Astana)
2002 – Alex Zülle (Team Coast)
2001 – José Azevedo (ONCE)
Sagres
2016 – Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo)
2015 – Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep)
2014 – Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)
Tavira
2016 – Marcel Kittel (Etixx-QuickStep)
2013 – Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)
2012 – Gerald Ciolek (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)
Malhão
2016 – Alberto Contador (Tinkoff)
2015 – Richie Porte (Sky)
2014 – Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo)
Last Winners of the Volta ao Algarve
2016 – Geraint Thomas (Sky)
2015 – Geraint Thomas (Sky)
2014 – Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)
2013 – Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)
2012 – Richie Porte (Sky)
2011 – Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad)
2010 – Alberto Contador (Astana)
2009 – Alberto Contador (Astana)
2008 – Stijn Devolder (QuickStep)
2007 – Alessandro Petacchi (Milram)
Source: Kev Monks
Source: DSG
