«We have the best teams in the world, we have the stars, we have the course, we have the climate. We just need a greater disclosure. I throw the challenge to television and to those who are in charge on television: there is no reason why this race should not be broadcast live». The words are the Liberty Seguros Marketing Director, at the presentation, today, in Lisbon, of the 42nd edition of Volta ao Algarve, which takes place between February 17th and 21st.
The race continues to assert itself as a race of international reference, since it is not easy to find, outside the WorldTour circuit, a peloton with the quality of those who will ride in the south of the country.
The peloton will consist of 192 runners, representing 24 teams. The list of entries has representatives from 30 countries: Germany, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Slovenia, Spain, United States of America, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine and Uruguay.
Half of the 24 participating teams are from the international first division, a growth of 50% compared to the previous edition of the competition.
Individually, the squad also continues to evolve. Among the entries are four runners in the world's top10: Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha), second, Fabio Aru (Astana), fifth, Alberto Contador (Tinkoff), seventh, and Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), tenth.
26 runners from the top 100 in the 2015 ranking will ride in the Algarve, a growth of 62,5 percent compared to last year.
The aggregated record of the registered cyclists has, among many other successes, with four victories in the Tour de España, two in the Tour de France and two in the Tour d'Italia, nine in the World Championships, seven in Paris-Roubaix, eight in the Tour of Flanders and one Olympic gold medal.
The quality of the Volta ao Algarve squad is due to the combination of several factors: the race is well placed on the international calendar, it takes place in a region where the climate is mild even in midwinter, the hotels are of quality and the roads Algarve have excellent characteristics for building a route that meets the competitive needs of the beginning of the season.
The route of the 42nd Volta ao Algarve is one of the main reasons for attracting great teams and stars of the international squad, as it offers opportunities for all types of cyclists.
The first and fourth stages are designed for sprinters to test the final point. The third stage is an individual 18-kilometer time trial, which allows experts to try out the new “goats”. The second and fifth stages have a high end, serving as an examination of the climbers' shape.
All in all, only a complete runner can aspire to wear the final yellow jersey. It will certainly be a cyclist of international prestige wearing the colors of Cyclin'Portugal, helping to spread this project on a global scale, through the immense media that the race has conquered, nationally and internationally. A year ago, Volta ao Algarve was reported in 17 different countries.
The diversity and quality of the 2016 squad allow for an even more intense media coverage.
The Volta ao Algarve is also the opportunity to see in action, in national territory, some of the best Portuguese cycling emigrants. On the other hand, national teams will be able to compete on the media stage with the big foreign stars, in what is the race in which the young values of the Portuguese peloton can show themselves to the best international teams.
For all this, the president of the Portuguese Cycling Federation considered that «Voltage to the Algarve is the anchor event that will be able to promote Portuguese cycling in the world, valuing the national territory for the practice of cycling, attracting teams and individual riders», said the president of the Portuguese Cycling Federation, during the race presentation ceremony, held today at the federative headquarters in Lisbon.
For his part, during the ceremony to present the race, which took place today at the Federation's headquarters, in Lisbon, the president of Turismo do Algarve stressed that the race “is structural for the region”.
Desidério Silva underlined that the «Tourism Region works with the Portuguese Cycling Federation so that the Volta ao Algarve is the anchor of something broader, Cyclin'Portugal, which wants to attract to the region those who like cycling», fighting against seasonality, from October to May.
José Cordovil, assistant secretary of State for Youth and Sports, highlighted the fact that the «Portuguese Cycling Federation has a strategy that combines competition with cycling as a factor in the country's economic development». About the Volta ao Algarve, he expressed “very pleased to see this group of teams and runners move to Portugal”.
The president of the Association of Municipalities of the Algarve, Jorge Botelho, tuned to the same pitch. «This year the Cyclin'Portugal project was consolidated, and in what way. We have the best of the best, the best squad that has ever set foot in the country», he said.
Back is also cycling for everyone
The Volta ao Algarve, in addition to being an important high-competition event, is also a party for cycling enthusiasts and amateur and leisure practitioners. The stages of the race will certainly excite those who like to be on the side of the road, seeing the spectacle and encouraging runners.
Those who cannot resist being protagonists will also have the opportunity to participate in the Volta ao Algarve. On Saturday, February 20th, the Cycling Tour for All of the Volta ao Algarve takes place. It will have 40 kilometers, starting and ending in São Brás de Alportel. 200 participants are expected.
The next day, Loulé welcomes the departure and arrival of Algarve Granfondo, a mass event that already requires better physical preparation. Participants in granfondo they will have 135 kilometers ahead, with 2600 meters of accumulated climb. Who aligns in the medium background will face 83 kilometers and a cumulative 1300 meters.
700 people will participate, from Portugal, Germany, Canada, Spain, France, England, Northern Ireland and Switzerland. The winners will be crowned at the top of Malhão, on the final podium of the Volta ao Algarve.
Steps
February 17th – 1st Stage: Lagos – Albufeira, 163,6 km
February 18 – 2nd Stage: Lagoa – Fóia (Monchique), 198,6 km
February 19 – 3rd Stage: Sagres – Sagres, 18 km (Individual Time Trial)
February 20th – 4th Stage: S. Brás de Alportel – Tavira, 194 km
February 21 – 5th Stage: Almodôvar – Malhão (Loulé), 169 km
Participating Teams
World Tour: Astana, Cannondale, Etixx-QuickStep, FDJ, IAM Cycling, Katusha, Lotto Soudal, Lotto
NL-Jumbo, Movistar, Team Sky, Tinkoff and Trek-Segafredo.
Professional Continentals: Bora-Argon 18, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Gazprom-RusVelo, New
Nordisk, Roth and Verva ActiveJet.
Continentals: Efapel, LA Alumínios-Antarte, Louletano-Hospital de Loulé, Rádio Popular-Boavista,
Sporting-Tavira and W52-FC Porto
World Top 100 Runners
2nd Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)
5th Fabio Aru (Astana)
7th Alberto Contador (Tinkoff)
10th Thibaut Pinot (FDJ)
13th Rigoerto Urán (Cannondale)
14th Geraint Thomas (Sky)
24th André Greipel (Lotto Soudal)
26th Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky)
30th Ion Izagirre (Movistar)
31st Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-QuickStep)
37th Niki Terpstra (Etixx-QuickStep)
40th Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal)
41st Robert Gesink (NL-Jumbo Lotto)
47th Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal)
52nd Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto Soudal)
67th Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo)
70th Andrew Talansky (Cannondale)
71st Diego Rosa (Astana)
72nd Sep Vanmarcke (Lotto NL-JUmbo)
75th Ramunas Navardauskas (Cannondale)
79th Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep)
80th Jens Debusschere (Lotto Soudal)
81st Yuri Trofimov (Tinkoff)
92nd Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep)
95th Gorka Izaguirre (Movistar)
99th Yves Lampaert (Etixx-QuickStep)
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