The 47th Volta ao Algarve will take place between the 5th and the 9th of May, over 765.8 kilometers, spread over five stages.
The race starts in Lagos and ends at the top of Malhão, in the municipality of Loulé. Two stages have a mountain finish, others are suitable for sprinters and an individual time trial completes the menu.
The inaugural run will be for sprinters, starting in Lagos and ending in Portimão, after covering 189.5 kilometers.
The second stage starts in Sagres, Vila do Bispo, and ends at the highest point in the Algarve, Fóia, in Monchique, after 182.8 kilometers. The wavy course translates into an accumulated ascent of 4100 meters. Three mountains in the last 30 kilometers promise to warm up the fight for the overall.
The goal coincides with a first-rate mountain prize, the climb from Monchique to Fóia (7.5 km with 7.3 percent average slope). 6.2 kilometers from the beginning of the Fóia climb, runners will pass through Pomba, a second category climb with 3.6 kilometers and an average slope of 8.2 percent.
The third category, in Alferce (5.7 km at 6.2 percent), 26.4 kilometers from the finish marks the start of the hard phase of the journey.
On the third day, the sprinters will again be called to play a leading role, on a journey that begins in Faro, travels through the interior of the Sotavento and the Algarve region before ending in the heart of Tavira. It will be the longest trip in the competition, with 203.1 kilometers.
The fourth stage will be very important in scaling up the overall classification. It is the time trial of Lagoa, which will have the same route, of 20.3 kilometers, already covered in the three most recent editions of the race.
The final, at the fifth and final stage, a 170.1 km connection between Albufeira and the top of Malhão, in the municipality of Loulé, where the goal coincides with a second category mountain prize.
Phases:
1st stage, 05 May: Lagos - Portimão, 189.5 km.
2nd stage, May 6: Sagres - Fóia, 182.8 km.
3rd stage, 07 May: Faro - Tavira, 203.1 km.
4th stage, May 8: Lagoa - Lagoa, 20.3 km.
5th stage, May 9th: Albufeira - Malhão, 170.1 km.