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2026-02-20T13:43:02.169Z
Laurens De Plus has just rolled off the start ramp. He might have fancied his chances of a strong ride today, and been up there on GC, but endured a crash earlier in the race that has seen him tumble well down the classification.
2026-02-20T13:39:27.024Z
He won’t be making his way to the hot seat, however, as Daniel Dias has just arrived in a time 30 seconds quicker.
2026-02-20T13:38:40.676Z
Our first rider has arrived at he finish line – Francisco Pereira, in a time of 30 seconds.
2026-02-20T13:37:31.732Z
The three jersey wearers, on the podium yesterday – Ayuso in yellow, Seixas in green and Contte in blue.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-02-20T13:35:14.705Z
Nine riders have gone through the first time check so far – all of them Portuguese. Diogo Narcisco is the fastest of them so far, 12 seconds quicker than Dias.
2026-02-20T13:32:17.503Z
While this stage is beginning, the fifth stage of the UAE Tour has just finished – read all about it here.
2026-02-20T13:31:04.889Z
The first couple of riders have gone through the time check, which is positioned half way into the stage. Daniel Dias arrived there in 14:37, 32 seconds quicker than Francisco Pereira.
2026-02-20T13:25:39.527Z
Neither rain nor wind looks set to be a factor today, in what is a mild, sunny day in the Algarve.
2026-02-20T13:21:35.091Z
For both Ayuso and Seixas, the seven seconds they have might not be enough against as strong a time trialist as João Almeida.
2026-02-20T13:14:07.374Z
The stage is underway, with Francisco Pereira the first rider off the start ramp.
TIME TRIAL BEGINS
2026-02-20T13:10:46.615Z
Seixas may have a lot of talent, but will that be enough to defeat the much more accomplished Juan Ayuso? Ayuso is a very good rider against the clock – his last overall stage victory, at the 2025 Tirreno-Adritaico, came off the back of a flat opening time trial in which only Filippo Ganna went faster than him.
2026-02-20T13:03:27.820Z
We’re still learning a lot about yesterday’s winner Paul Seixas, but the early signs are that the 19-year old’s formidable talents also include time trialing. He won not one but two stages against the clock during his overall triumph at the Tour de l’Avenir last year, and at professional level was 3rd in the French national championships, and 16th at the Worlds.
2026-02-20T12:59:22.420Z
The 19.5km route features rolling roads, but no climbs, and has some quite technical sections amid urban roads. There’s scope here for the specialists to put some significant time into the GC rivals less skilled against the clock.
2026-02-20T12:54:10.177Z
The first of the day’s 165 riders will sett off in just under 20 minutes. You can find the full list of start times here.
2026-02-20T12:49:12.291Z
Despite their superiority yesterday, the GC is by no means a two horse race. João Almeida lurks menacingly in third overall at just seven seconds, and, as such an accomplished time trialist, will fancy his chances of gaining that today.
2026-02-20T12:46:39.095Z
Yesterday’s stage shaped the GC hierarchy, with the top climbers coming to the fore on what proved to be a very selective final climb. Paul Seixas took the stage win, but there’s nothing to separate him from Juan Ayuso at the top of the GC, both riders being on the same time. Therefore today, every second will count.
2026-02-20T12:42:28.786Z
Today we’re in Vilamoura for the race’s individual time trial, which could be the defining stage in the GC race.
2026-02-17T18:21:10.882Z
Hello and welcome to stage three of the Volta ao Algarve!
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