The peloton of the 41st Volta ao AlgarveTour of Algarve (February 18-22) which will have at least 20 teams, already has18 confirmed teams, seven of these from the WorldTour, the first division of the international cycling.

Previously the Belgians Lotto Soudal and Ettix-QuickStep, the British Sky, the US Cannondale-Garmin and the Russian Katusha were announced. Now the Dutch Lotto NL-Jumbo and the Kazakh Astana have been announced. The organizers still have contacts with other WorldTour teams in order to enrich the race.

Four Continental Profissional teams are also confirmed: Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, from Spain, Bora-Argon 18, from Germany, Wanty-Groupe Gobert, from Belgium, and RusVelo, from Russia. The six portuguese Continental Teams - Efapel, LA Alumínios-Antarte, Louletano-Ray Just Energy, Rádio Popular-Boavista, Team Banco BIC and W52-Quinta da Lixa - as well as the continental from United States of America Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies will also have a place in the Volta ao Algarve/Tour of Algarve.

Four of the eighteen confirmed teams have already sent their roster for the race:

Astana: Michele Scarponi, Luis León Sánchez, Rein Taaramae, Valerio Agnoli, Davide Malacarne, Maxat Ayazbayev, Arman Kamyshev and Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev.

Wanty-Goupe Gobert: Bjorn Leukemans, Marco Marcato, Francis de Greef, Roy Jans, Jan Ghijselinck, Frederik Veuchelen, Kevin Van Melsen and James Vanlandschoot.

RusVelo: Ivan Balykin, Igor Boev, Petr Ignatenko, Artem Nych, Roman Maikin, Artem Ovechkin, Kirill Pozdnyakov and Mamyr Stash.

Oputm: Jesse Anthony, Scott Zwizanski, Thomas Zirbel, Eric Young, Ryan Anderson, Bradley Huff, William Routley and Phil Gaimon.

Volta ao Algarve/Tour of will have five stages and a total of 768.2 kilometers:

1st Lagos - Albufeira, 168 km (stage for sprinters)

2nd Lagoa - Monchique, 192 km (Medium mountain stage)

3rd Vila do Bispo - Cabo de S. Vicente, 18.2 km (Individual Time Trial)

4th Tavira - Malhão, 212 km (Summit finish)

5th Almodôvar - Vilamoura, 178 km (stage for sprinters)