Any individual in search of the principle plot line of this week’s Volta ao Algarve want glance no additional than the pictures of Remco Evenepoel’s shocking solo triumph within the Figuera Champions Vintage on Saturday.
When Evenepoel surged previous teammate James Knox’s proper shoulder and took flight at the sharp uphill of Rua Parque Forestal, he used to be handiest noticed once more some 50 kilometres later past the end line.
It used to be affirmation of what we suspected: the Soudal-Fast Step chief would be the rider to overcome in southern Portugal.
Historical past is on Evenepoel’s aspect, with two total Volta ao Algarve triumphs already to his call in his handiest two earlier participations, in 2020 and 2022. Whoever desires to win this yr’s race, must tackle and beat Evenepoel.
But the record of riders honouring the fiftieth version of the Volta ao Algarve are considerable and plenty of of them have proven spectacular early-season shape. The racing will have to be intense and intriguing, because the early season ramps from preparation races to big-name battles and hilly degree races.
Wout van Aert (Visma-Rent A Motorbike) is one such big-name rider.
The Volta ao Algarve’s two dash phases, the 22km rolling time trial and two hill-top finishes in southern Portugal all be offering precisely the sorts of alternatives that is helping ultra-versatile Van Aert galvanize.
The comparative rarity of a Van Aert as opposed to Evenepoel combat handiest renders this yr’s race much more fascinating: if their race schedules stay unchanged, Algarve is the one race in 2024 the place Van Aert and Evenepoel will take each be provide of their rival industry groups.
Different riders aiming to hone their Classics shape along Van Aert within the Algarve come with Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) and Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ), each former degree winners within the five-day race.
Küng is most likely to offer Evenepoel a major run for his cash within the degree 4 time trial, which the Swiss rider captured ultimate yr, whilst Pidcock’s talent to polish on punchy uphill finishes and longer ascents can be in his favour at the hilly phases 2 and 5.
Evenepoel isn’t the one earlier Algarve winner to go back to Portugal this yr.
Protecting champion Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) already proved he’s in positive early season shape with victory in his Nationwide Time Trial Championships a couple of weeks in the past and Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), by no means at the backfoot with regards to racing towards the clock, has gained Volta ao Algarve two times total in 2015 and 2016. Thomas arrives in Portugal after an early block of coaching at altitude, one thing even Evenepoel has no longer executed.
But extra time trialling royalty can be provide at Algarve, with Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) again in motion after driving the Excursion Down Beneath. Like Thomas and Martínez, the Italian is the use of Algarve to construct in opposition to the Giro d’Italia.
Thomas and Evenepoel are by means of no longer the one Grand Excursion winners provide. 2020 Giro d’Italia winner Tao Geoghegan Hart (Lidl-Trek) can be the use of Algarve as an early season check along with his new workforce as he returns to racing after his dangerous crash on the 2023 Giro d’Italia.
Vuelta a España winner Sepp Kuss will give Visma-Lend A Motorbike an alternative choice along Van Aert. The American climber will possibly play a make stronger function however is now one of the most big-names to bear in mind.
The Volta ao Algarve path and the way it would play out
The primary of 2 transparent alternatives for the sprinters within the Volta ao Algarve comes at the time-honoured opening degree from Portimao de Lagos.
Arnaud Démare (Arkéa-Samsic) can be aiming to push his tally of 96 wins a bit of nearer to the century mark, and fellow-sprinters of the calibre of Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty), 2023 Champs Elysées champion Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe) can be doing their utmost to prevent him.
Level 2, then again, heads inland to the Serra de Monchique and can most likely see a primary collection of GC favourites come to the fore at the 7.7km at 6.1% Alto de Foia summit end.
Foia used to be the place Tadej Pogačar introduced himself in 2019 and the place Evenepoel himself unleashed a thunderous overdue acceleration one year later Whoever strikes into the lead in Foia, Algarve’s perfect climb, can be a major contender for total victory.
Level 3 will possibly fall prey to the sprinters once more however then the race will take a twist. Some of the few components the Algarve organisers trade incessantly is the placement of the person time trial within the race. This yr it strikes again from being the grand finale slot to degree 4, like in 2022 and so earlier than the overall hilltop end.
The ultimate time trial to be held in Albufeira used to be in 2003, so this can be a comparative unknown. That mentioned, the 22 km path, on a rolling, technical direction favours lighter-built Grand Excursion riders reasonably than the natural time trial consultants. Evenepoel shall be the purpose of reference as soon as once more.
A summit end for the nineteenth time, Algarve’s ultimate showdown at Malhao on Sunday is a a lot more acquainted function and can crown this yr’s winner of the Volta ao Algarve.
The 165.8 km degree additionally contains the cat 3 ascents of Picota, Vermelhos and Alte which precede the climb to the end.
The two.6km at 9.5% Malhao is a brief however sharp haul to the road and previous winners there come with Pidcock, and Sergio Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe). After a 5th and 3rd position at the identical summit in 2022 and 2020, Evenepoel will indubitably be aiming to win.
Evenepoel may equivalent the file of 3 Volta ao Algarve victories held by means of mythical Portuguese rider Belmiro Silva however no matter occurs, the overall outcome can have a miles deeper resonance.
The week of racing can be a primary check and primary indication of Evenepoel and Soudal-Fast Step’s 2024 ambitions. He’s focused on the Excursion de France in 2024 and the Volta ao Algarve is step one in opposition to July, France and a shot on the podium in Paris.