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2026-02-18T14:18:11.104Z
Consequently, the gap to the break has come down to just over a minute.
2026-02-18T14:17:37.573Z
The pace is up in the peloton, as they approach the foot of the first climb of the day – the category three Marcador, which rises for 6.2km at 4.5%.
2026-02-18T14:15:25.329Z
Almeida and UAE Team Emirates’ main rival could well be Juan Ayuso, in what is set to be the first of a tasty rivalry between himself and his former team. Can the Spaniard, who now rides for Lidl-Trek, inflict revenge on the team he left acrimoniously at the end of last season? He says he’s aiming for overall victory.
2026-02-18T14:11:16.591Z
Given the might of UAE Team Emirates, and the continuation so far this season of their huge success from 2025, their leader João Almeida may be the man to beat. He looked good at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana, albeit losing out on the GC to Remco Evenepoel – but won’t have to worry about defeating his Belgian rival this time, as Evenepoel’s racing in the UAE.
As a Portuguese rider, Almeida’s the man the home fans will be backing.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-02-18T14:04:37.643Z
This is unlikely to be a day for the GC riders, whose task today is mostly about survival and avoiding incident before the showdowns to come later in the race. But let’s have a look at who’s likely to be in the mix for the overall victory.
2026-02-18T14:02:43.216Z
2:25 now for the break, which is their biggest lead of the day.
2026-02-18T14:00:15.878Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-02-18T13:55:36.791Z
Still the gap remains at about two minutes. The peloton has this firmly under control, despite the size of the group.
110KM TO GO
2026-02-18T13:53:51.051Z
Alpecin riders in the peloton, surrounding their man Jasper Philipsen. While Philpsen is the obvious leader, they also have Kaden Groves here as an alternative option, making his first appearance of the season.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-02-18T13:49:08.972Z
After Magnier’s Soudal and Philipsen’s Alpecin, the third man in line in that picture is a Red Bull-Hansgrohe rider. He’ll be working for Jordi Meeus, who will have a chance to sprint for victory today before the team’s focus shifts to GC with Florian Lipowitz and former overall winner Dani Martínez.
2026-02-18T13:47:07.269Z
Magnier’s Soudal-QuickStep are taking it upon themselves to control this break, with their man Jonathan Vervenne seen here leading the peloton.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-02-18T13:42:31.261Z
The break’s lead is holding steady, still at just over two minutes.
120KM TO GO
2026-02-18T13:36:20.195Z
Since the departure of Remco Evenepoel, there’s a big onus on Paul Magnier to perform at Soudal-QuickStep, and perhaps become their new talisman. He could make a big statement by winning today, on what is just his second race day of the season.
2026-02-18T13:32:44.705Z
Here’s an idea of the kind of landscape that is providing the backdrop for today’s stage in the Algarve.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-02-18T13:27:38.581Z
The gap between the break and the peloton is still at about two minutes.
130KM TO GO
2026-02-18T13:25:47.613Z
Another big name to look out for in the event of a bunch sprint is Arnaud De Lie. The Belgian’s start to the season was delayed by a freak injury sustained during the Christmas break, though, and his team have downplayed his form as a result.
2026-02-18T13:19:03.407Z
The race has it’s first abandon already – Henri Uhlig, one of the Alpecin teammates tasked with helping Philipsen win today’s stage.
2026-02-18T13:17:40.890Z
The big, new summit finish at the UAE Tour lived up to the hype, and produced a thrilling battle up it. We won’t spoil it here, but be sure to read our report of what happened.
2026-02-18T13:14:05.002Z
So which sprinters should we be looking out for in the finale? Jasper Philipsen’s name stands out. This is the first race of 2026, and he’s beginning what he hopes will be another prolific printer, having spent many years now as one of the fastest men in the peloton.
2026-02-18T13:11:01.661Z
The riders are currently going uphill, but only at a very gradual gradient. The parcours is a little undulating for a while, but this still looks like a day for the sprinters.
2026-02-18T13:08:31.946Z
The gap’s up to 2:15, the highest it’s been all day.
140KM TO GO
2026-02-18T13:07:35.298Z
The peloton, where the atmosphere is relaxed.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-02-18T13:04:40.681Z
The pace in the peloton has eased off again, and the gap is growing. It seems the break will be allowed to remain up the road after all.
2026-02-18T13:01:15.313Z
Leijnse’s problem must have only been a mechanical, as he’s back with the leaders now.
2026-02-18T13:00:26.074Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-02-18T12:56:38.943Z
Leijnse has dropped out of the break.
2026-02-18T12:55:50.186Z
Soudal are working for a Paul Magnier win today. The young sprinter was one of the most prolific winners of 2025, and has started this season in good nick with a runner-up finish at Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana – Gran Premi València.
2026-02-18T12:53:36.016Z
Soudal-QuickStep don’t appear too happy with this break – perhaps it’s too big? They’re pulling at the front of the peloton and have almost halved the gap, to just over a minute.
150KM TO GO
2026-02-18T12:49:03.920Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-02-18T12:44:09.788Z
The gap between the break and the peloton is up to two minutes, but has ceased to grow as the peloton begin chasing.
160KM TO GO
2026-02-18T12:42:09.246Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-02-18T12:36:32.095Z
So it’s very much a break of chancers, with two-thirds of it made up of native Portuguese riders.
2026-02-18T12:34:46.469Z
Here are the nine rider in the break:
José Miguel Moreira (GI Group Holding – Simoldes – UDO)
André Ribeiro (GI Group Holding – Simoldes – UDO)
Diogo Narciso (Credibom / LA Alumínios / Marcos Car)
Bruno Silva (Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortágua)
Noah Campos (Team Tavira / Crédito Agrícola)
Tomas Contte (Aviludo – Louletano – Loulé)
João Silva (Feira dos Sofás – Boavista)
2026-02-18T12:31:19.113Z
We’ll have a full run-down of everyone in it shortly – there are no World Tour riders among them.
2026-02-18T12:28:38.998Z
Over a minute for the nine-man break – it doesn’t appear the peloton is chasing them down.
170KM TO GO
2026-02-18T12:26:22.510Z
It’s a large group, especially for a flat opening stage of a short stage race, but there doesn’t appear to be any notably dangerous riders in it.
2026-02-18T12:25:15.777Z
A group of about 9 riders have established a gap on the peloton, this might be the break of the day.
2026-02-18T12:23:53.820Z
A first glimpse of the riders out on the road today.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-02-18T12:16:44.152Z
The parcours today is mostly flat, with only a couple of small category three climbs to take on in the second half of the stage, before a straightforward run-in to the finish in Tavira. So it should certainly be an opening stage for the bunch sprinters.
2026-02-18T12:13:48.779Z
It’s a mild day out there in the Algarve, not quite the searing temperatures that attract tourists later in the year, but a reasonable 17 degrees.
2026-02-18T12:10:35.463Z
And they’re off!
183KM TO GO
2026-02-18T12:04:15.907Z
The riders are making their way through the neutralised zone in Vila Real de Santo António.
2026-02-18T12:02:49.927Z
Here’s Oscar Onley at the start, one of the big names making his debut for his new team, Ineos Grenadiers.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-02-18T11:57:52.719Z
We’re only a few minutes away from the unofficial start!
2026-02-18T11:56:51.573Z
Today feels like a day when the 2026 season really starts to get going. As well as the Volta ao Algarve, the Vuelta a Andalucia is also getting underway across the border, while in the Middle-East the UAE Tour continues with a summit finish. You read a preview of that stage here.
2026-02-18T11:50:37.296Z
None of those four riders are present this year, but the start list remains stacked nonetheless. Have a read here for our full run-down of who to look out for.
2026-02-18T11:48:42.810Z
This race in Southern Portugal has in recent years developed to become one of the most prestigious and star-studded of the early season stage races, as a quick look at the list of recent winners conforms – Jonas Vingegaard triumphed last year, Remco Evenepoel the year before, and Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar within the last seven years.
2026-02-17T18:11:40.600Z
Hello and welcome to stage one of the Volta ao Algarve!
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