Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta 2025 ( February 19 - February 23)

[Red Rick]

Gotta take some work off @Devil's Elbow 's elbows. And lower standards for threads obviously. Vingegaard vs Roglic vs the field.

The big prediction? Red Rick to complain about taking out the Malhao MTF in favor of more sprint stages. You heard it first

Startlist

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

The climbs

Alto da Foia. Important to note this year they climb from a different direction, which is a lot easier apart from having a much steeper final short ramp

Alto do Lmao Malhão

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The final ramp is 3.2k at 7.4% so a bit harder than PCS suggests. Would say it's an improvement (also because it's closer to Pomba), but still not one of the hardest sides of Foiá.

The official climb profile belongs in the worst profiles thread:

 

[Rob5091]

Roadbook at
https://voltaaoalgarve.com/files/roadbook-2025.pdf

A bit too early in the year to be firing on all cylinders, but it could be fun if RedBull want to make a statement.

 

[Lequack]

Time for GC Kuss

 

[Squire]

Time for GC Kuss

The team has at least three guys I would expect higher on GC on this route than Kuss if they all tried their best (on current/expected form).

 

[Earns1985]

The team has at least three guys I would expect higher on GC on this route than Kuss if they all tried their best (on current/expected form).

It is definitely the opposite of a tailor-made course for Kuss. Question is, if they are going on stage 2 all-in for Vingegaard or if they also want to let van Aert in the GC game. If they don´t want Ganna to be in a good position before the final time trial, they should go full gas on stage 2 in my opinion..

 

[AmRacer]

It is definitely the opposite of a tailor-made course for Kuss. Question is, if they are going on stage 2 all-in for Vingegaard or if they also want to let van Aert in the GC game. If they don´t want Ganna to be in a good position before the final time trial, they should go full gas on stage 2 in my opinion..

Roglic might have a say.

 

[Tim Cahill]

The Church of Rog is open.
His disciples will be along shortly.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891854952399536200

 

[Earns1985]

Roglic might have a say.

You mean, that Bora could also drill stage 2 in the end, if Visma doesn´t decide to do it? Possible, also UAE for Almeida could be the one to do it.

 

[Rackham]

The Church of Rog is open.
His disciples will be along shortly.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1891854952399536200

It could possibly be too early in the season for the Roglstomp festivities circa '2025 edition' to resume. He said himself a few months ago that he doesn't expect to be competitive here.

This is an early start to the season for him.

 

[Squire]

It is definitely the opposite of a tailor-made course for Kuss. Question is, if they are going on stage 2 all-in for Vingegaard or if they also want to let van Aert in the GC game. If they don´t want Ganna to be in a good position before the final time trial, they should go full gas on stage 2 in my opinion..

Van Aert for GC is quite unthinkable on this route/with his form I think. Foia is too hard this year. I was thinking about Vingegaard, Kelderman and Tulett (in that order) as possibly better GC options than Kuss. But Kuss is often pretty good in his early-season stage races too.

It's also too hard for Ganna, I think. In any case, both Visma and UAE should have incentive to make Foia really count. Red Bull will probably just try to have Roglic sprint to victory at the top, while guys like TGH, Tiberi, Arensman, Poole etc. will just follow and not put their teams to work. Curious to see if Gregoire can be a factor here. His previous season debuts haven't quite been fireworks though.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Hopefully Powless can get a result here.

 

[Earns1985]

Van Aert for GC is quite unthinkable on this route/with his form I think. Foia is too hard this year. I was thinking about Vingegaard, Kelderman and Tulett (in that order) as possibly better GC options than Kuss. But Kuss is often pretty good in his early-season stage races too.

It's also too hard for Ganna, I think. In any case, both Visma and UAE should have incentive to make Foia really count. Red Bull will probably just try to have Roglic sprint to victory at the top, while guys like TGH, Tiberi, Arensman, Poole etc. will just follow and not put their teams to work. Curious to see if Gregoire can be a factor here. His previous season debuts haven't quite been fireworks though.

While I agree to the questionable climbing form of van Aert, I don´t agree, that this is a route, where he cannot get a GC result even if in top form. Last year he finished here 7th overall, while preparing for the classics. (so without focus on climbing form). And this year, we have one mountain top finish less. Ok, this climb is therefore part of the TT, but this shouldn´t be a disadvantage for him. Let´s see what they are doing.. Personally I also think, that they will just go all in for Vingegaard. Van Aert will have his captain role in the upcoming Opening weekend and the upcoming classics..

Besides from the discussion here: I am fully aware of your interest, that van Aert shouldn´t score here in CQ terms..

 

[Squire]

While I agree to the questionable climbing form of van Aert, I don´t agree, that this is a route, where he cannot get a GC result even if in top form. Last year he finished here 7th overall, while preparing for the classics. (so without focus on climbing form). And this year, we have one mountain top finish less. Ok, this climb is therefore part of the TT, but this shouldn´t be a disadvantage for him. Let´s see what they are doing.. Personally I also think, that they will just go all in for Vingegaard. Van Aert will have his captain role in the upcoming Opening weekend and the upcoming classics..

A 2022 Tour de France Wout van Aert could definitely get a GC result here, for sure. But I specifically mentioned on current form. And while there is one mountain top finish less compared to last year, this year's Foia is significantly harder than the one they did last year.

Besides from the discussion here: I am fully aware of your interest, that van Aert shouldn´t score here in CQ terms..

My coping mechanism for the CQ game is usually playing up the chances of the riders I don't want to score points. But this time I genuinely believe that Algarve is not for him.

 

[YavorD]

Ganna was 2nd in the GC on a typical Algarve route. With one less MTF of course Van Aert (even with his Vuelta shape) could be top 3.
That said his form doesn't seem too good and Visma has Vingegaard so GC WVA is unthinkable.

Sunday will be a funny day to compare - we'll have Pogi on Jabel Hafeet and Vingegaard in the TT here.
I think he'll start the season rather hot (he does anyway..) aand will produce some good performances here.
Looking forward to see how Tiberi performs.

 

[zlev11]

cool that they turned the only interesting stage design this race has ever had into a TT

 

[red_flanders]

Seems like the GC result will be all about the TT then?

 

[Rockestar_33]

Jonas vs Rogla. In for this!

 

[Netserk]

Seems like the GC result will be all about the TT then?

Pomba.

Fóia is for extending the gap.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Underwhelming route, liked the classic one better tbh. You basically just add a sprinters stage more when combining Malhao and the ITT

 

[KZD]

This is a good route for Roglic, however that TT at the end seems great for a thermonuclear Vingegaard performance.

Interesting to see team dynamic at UAE, Almeida is the obviously leader but given Morgado's superb early season shape and the absence of proper mountains he can be another card to play for GC.

 

[red_flanders]

Pomba.

I don't know what that means. Thx.

 

[YavorD]

I don't know what that means. Thx.

That's the name of the climb before Foia.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Jonas vs Rogla. In for this!

Yes, it's a very exciting startlist, can't wait to see what shape both Rogla and Vingo will be in! And old G also...

 

[CyclistAbi]

Strong field and a nice battle for some prestige ahead. My pick is Rogla.