The full route of the 2026 Volta ao Algarve was revealed later than usual due to delays caused by Portugal’s local elections, the Portuguese Cycling Federation (FPC) has explained.
In a response to Lusa news agency, the federation said the traditional process of coordinating with host municipalities had to be postponed following the local elections held on October 12, 2025, as organisers were required to wait for new municipal executives to take office. In several cases, proposed routes also needed formal approval in municipal council meetings, inevitably slowing down preparations.
According to the FPC, the delay was largely beyond its control. While the route is typically announced between November and December, previous exceptions occurred in 2021, when the race was postponed to May due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and in 2022, which also followed local elections and was only presented in early January.
Only on Saturday, January 10, did organisers disclose the start and finish locations for the 52nd edition of the race, which will take place between February 18 and 22. Details such as distances, elevation profiles and stage specifics have yet to be released.
The federation said that by early December the route was almost finalised, with the exception of a single municipality. Final confirmation only arrived last weekend, making it impossible to present the complete course earlier, the FPC guaranteed.
The announcement of participating teams has also come later than usual. So far, UAE Team Emirates has been confirmed, while WorldTour teams Lidl-Trek and EF Education–EasyPost have included the Volta ao Algarve in their published race calendars. INEOS Grenadiers are also expected to compete, after Italy’s Filippo Ganna revealed he would start his season in southern Portugal.
For now, the race does not appear on the calendar of Visma–Lease a Bike, the team of defending champion Jonas Vingegaard.
