Today, the route of this year’s Volta ao Algarve was officially announced. Once again the race, which by most riders is used as a preparation race, favourites the climbers. After the race suffered from financial troubles in 2013, the race is, just as in 2014, back on the traditional 5 stages, which contains a single time trial and four normal stages.

The race will take place in Portugal from the 18th till the 22nd of February. As usual it is a 2.1 UCI class stage race. It is a part of the Europe Tour and will be 80 km longer than last year’s race. And the twist from last year with the time trial being stage number 3 instead of 5 will also be a dominant factor in this year’s race.

Starting with stage 1 the stage will have its finish line in Albufeira as usual, only starting in another city making the stage 8 km longer than last year. The stage will contain a Cat. 3 mountain with an altitude under 300 m. It makes it possible for the sprinters to make it to the finish line. If history from last year repeats itself, it will for sure be a sprinter’s stage as Sacha Modolo was fastest at the line last year.

Stage 2 will go from relatively flat to a regular stage for the climbers. Containing of two Cat. 3 mountains with under 70 km to the finish line and altitude-meters over 600, it seems to be a little too tough for the sprinters. Once again the stage is a repeat from last year, where the overall GC winner Michal Kwiatkowski took his first of two stage wins. Types like him would definitely mark this stage as a target for a win.

The middle stage of the race will be the time trial. Last year it was a 13,6 km time trial, which saw Michal Kwiatkowski make a double and consolidate his lead. This year the organizers have added 5,4 km, making it a total of 19 time trial kilometres. It might favourite the riders with talents in both climbing and time trialling a bit more than the course from last year.  The time trial isn’t flat though. It contains loads of smaller hills making it a bit harder due to the interruption of rhythm; a very important thing for time trial specialists.

Stage 4 will bring traditions forward once again. The stage will contain two Cat. 2 mountains and one Cat. 3 mountain. The stage will end with a summit finish on Alto do Malhão. A desirable thing for the climbers and without no doubt a stage for the climbers to change the positions in the GC. A differ from last year most be the length of the stage. The stage Alberto Contador won last year was “only” 164 km long, whereas the stage this year will be a total of 216 km long. A factor, which may have to be counted when guessing the winner.

The last stage is a stage for the pure sprinters. Containing a 300 m Cat. 3 mountain in the beginning of the stage it turns relatively flat in the end; every sprinter’s sweetest dream. Cavendish was fastest on the line last year, who knows which sprinter we will see win the stage this year?

2015 Volta ao Algarve:

Stage 1: Lagos - Albufeira, 167 km.
Stage 2: Lagoa - Monchique, 197 km.
Stage 3: Vila do Bispo - Sagres, 19 km (ITT).
Stage 4: Tavira - Alto do Malhão , 216 km.
Stage 5: Almodôvar - Vilamoura, 184 km.