Volta ao Algarve 2026

Volta ao Algarve results 2026

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Stage 5: Juan Ayuso wins final stage summit finish to take overall title / As it happened

Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) secured the stage 5 win and the overall victory at the Volta ao Algarve on Sunday. The Spaniard, wearing the yellow leader's jersey, was part of a small selection that formed on the final ascent of the decisive Alto do Malhão, before he sprinted to the day's victory.

Oscar Onley (Ineos Grenadiers) led the race into the final few hundred metres and launched his sprint first; however, Ayuso was quick to react and punched around the British rider right at the line. Onley was forced to settle for second while Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) took third, while João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) was fourth on the day.

Ayuso wrapped up the five-day race with the overall victory ahead of Seixas and Almeida.

Stage 4: Paul Magnier doubles up with another sprint victory / As it happened

Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) launched his sprint with 175 metres to go to take a commanding victory on stage 4 at the Volta ao Algarve. The Frenchman bided his time, waiting for the perfect moment to launch his sprint up the centre of the road, and none could respond as he crossed the line by a bike length ahead of runner-up Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) and third-placed Oded Kogut (NSN Cycling Team).

Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) finished safely in the bunch and maintained his lead in the overall classification by 14 seconds ahead of Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) and 44 seconds ahead of João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).

Stage 3: Favourite Filippo Ganna wins stage 3 time trial while Juan Ayuso adds time for GC lead

Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) won stage 3's 19.5km individual time trial on Friday, posting a time six seconds faster than race leader Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), and Jakob Söderqvist (Lidl-Trek) another two seconds back in third. Ayuso extended his lead in the general classification over Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM, who posted the fourth fastest time in Vilamoura.

Stage 2: Paul Seixas eclipses Juan Ayuso and João Almeida atop Alto da Fóia for stage 2 victory

Five riders battled for the win on the mountaintop finish at Alto da Fóia, 19-year-old Frenchman Paul Seixas Decathlon CMA CGM) surging at the line ahead of Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) and João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) for the stage 2 victory. Oscar Onley (Ineos Grenadiers) finished fourth and Matthew Riccitello (Decathlon CMA CGM) fifth.

Ayuso scored enough bonus seconds earlier in the stage to pull on the yellow jersey.

Stage 1: Paul Magnier rockets to stage 1 victory as Soudal-QuickStep control final kilometre

In a messy headwind bunch sprint, Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) emerged with the win after launching off the wheel of Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) to take the first leader's jersey. In the new golden kilometre time bonus sprints, Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) picked up three seconds in his quest for the overall victory.

Volta ao Algarve overview

The Volta ao Algarve, founded in 1960, will hold its 52nd edition in 2026 with 11 WorldTour teams on the line for the ProSeries event.

A prestigious event in its own right, since the late 1990s it gained much greater international stature and has become a significant early-season race that many top riders use to prepare for the upcoming Spring Classics.

More recent winners of the Volta ao Algarve include the likes of Tony Martin, Michal Kwiatkowski, Richie Porte, Geraint Thomas, Primož Roglič, Tadej Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel and, in 2025, Jonas Vingegaard.

The 2026 Volta ao Algarve once again features a medium-length, rolling individual time trial of 19.5 kilometres, plus a summit finish on the second day on the Alto do Fóia and the final day atop the Alto do Malhão.

There are plenty of opportunities for the sprinters, too, with two flat finishes outside of the decisive three stages for the GC.

Volta ao Algarve route

2026 Volta ao Algarve Stages

• February 18, 2026: Stage 1 - Vila Real de Santo António - Tavira, 183.5km
• February 19, 2026: Stage 2 - Portimão - Fóia, 147km
• February 20, 2026: Stage 3 (ITT) - Vilamoura - Vilamoura, 19.5km
• February 21, 2026: Stage 4 - Albufeira - Lagos, 175km
• February 22, 2026: Stage 5 - Faro - Malhão, 148.4km

With a slightly shorter, but punchier route than in 2025, the 673.5 kilometres of the 2026 Volta ao Algarve have some interesting innovations.

Stage 1 features a golden kilometre, stage 2 has a tougher finale prior to the usual summit of Alto do Fóia and stage 5, whilst ending on the Malhão, has a much harder finishing circuit.

You can read about the route in full here.