10 riders to watch at the Volta ao Algarve 🇵🇹
From Roglič, Thomas and Vingegaard to Girmay and Magnier
Hi everyone,
We’re kicking off today with preview content ahead of the Volta ao Algarve, which starts next week.
I’ll be on the ground at the race, conducting interviews and covering news, transfers, and race analysis - I can’t wait!
This morning, we’re looking at 10 riders to watch, and later this afternoon, we’ll interview one of the riders on our list.
There will be a second story out later today, too!
Thanks
Daniel 🫶
Geraint Thomas 🏴
Team: Ineos Grenadiers
Age: 38
At a very rough count, Thomas probably has about 40-50 days of elite racing remaining before he hangs up his wheels later this year. It’ll fly by in no time, making races such as the Volta ao Algarve a rare privilege to see him before he disappears from our view as a bike racer, at least.
It’s unlikely that we’ll see Thomas do much more than use Algarve as another stepping stone towards Tour de France selection, but it’s a race he’s won twice before. Sadly, the team has turned down our interview request with Thomas for 2025, which is a shame, but we’ll still be able to pester him outside the Ineos bus each morning and afternoon before he heads to Tirreno-Adriatico next month. Always a good interview, always willing to chat at races, Thomas will leave a massive void in British cycling when he does retire, so Algarve is genuinely one of those final chances to catch him before he’s gone.
Iúri Leitão 🇵🇹
Team: Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
Age: 26
Leitão showed up a bunch of WorldTour teams to win the Trofeo Palma earlier this year, and although his record in Algarve isn’t great, he’s certainly a rider worth watching.
Two stages definitely suit the home-grown talent, and whilst there are certainly more accomplished sprinters in the field, don’t discount the 26-year-old from Caja Rural. He’s consistent, full of confidence, and he’s out of contract at the end of the season. A few more wins and WorldTour teams will start to take notice.