A battle of the stars: Lipowitz, Almeida, Onley and Ayuso at the Volta ao Algarve 2026

The Portuguese Tour of the Algarve promises to be a real thriller with the line-ups of the WorldTour teams. Although the traditional preparatory tour has been used by a few top riders in recent years to prepare for the major highlights of the season, there have never been as many stars at the start as this year. In addition to the new edition of the duel for the Tour de France podium between Florian Lipowitz and Oscar Onley, João Almeida and Juan Ayuso are also in the line-up for their teams. Here, too, there is still a need for sporting clarification. Last year, they rode together in the Tour of Spain as part of the UAE Emirates - XRG team, but there was a real clash within the team. Ayuso refused to assist his team-mate for almost the entire Vuelta - the team and the young Spanish talent subsequently cancelled his existing contract. His new home: Team Lidl-Trek, which now competes under a German licence.

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Favourites and up-and-coming talent

In addition to the four favourites mentioned above, the Volta ao Algarve is also a magnet for promising young talent. Paul Seixas already showed last season that he is a force to be reckoned with. The 19-year-old Frenchman finished third in the elite race of the European Championships behind Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel and showed impressively what could come in the next few years. Very similar: Kévin Vauquelin, who has been riding for Ineos Grenadiers since this year. He narrowly lost out to Almeida at the Tour de Suisse, finished a strong seventh at the Tour and forms an incredibly talented duo with Oscar Onley in his new racing team. Decathlon also has a second ace up its sleeve alongside Paul Seixas. Matthew Riccitello is another big name when it comes to the best young riders.

The sprinters also come to Portugal

In addition to the many general classification riders who will be battling it out for the stage win, the 1st and 4th stages should be something for the fast men. Two out of five stages with an expected bunch sprint - that's a good ratio from the sprinters' point of view these days. That's exactly why Jasper Philipsen, Arnaud de Lie, Jordi Meeus and Paul Magnier will be travelling to the Algarve. Two stage wins for four absolute top sprinters, anyone who can do the maths will quickly realise: some will come away empty-handed.

But it's not just the big sprinter names who are coming to take a stage win. The German sprinters also have a small outside chance. In addition to Pascal Ackermann, who will be at the start with his new team Jayco AlUla, Tim Torn Teutenberg will also be there. Both could have a chance of a big coup if everything goes perfectly. The tour seems to be generally popular among the German pros - no fewer than 10 riders are in their teams' line-ups.

All in all, it should be exciting on all five stages. Whether for the sprinters on stages 1 and 4, or in the battle for the overall classification on stages 2, 3 and 5, with two mountain top finishes and an individual time trial, it is the perfect preparation tour for what is still to come this year.