Overall Preview – Volta ao Algarve 2020
By David Hunter
With the “opening weekend” of the season fast approaching, the classics riders head to Portugal for some sunshine and hard racing. Joining them are the usual bunch of GC riders looking to fine tune their form ahead of the first major goals of the season: Paris-Nice and Tirreno Adriatico. This is a brilliant preparation race, but also a great race for fans to watch. The organisers have gone with a traditional route, let’s take a look.
Stage 1
Sprint time. We have a number of talented fast men at this race, and they’ll look forward to this opening stage.
Stage 2
The GC will begin to take shape after the climb of Alto da Fóia. The start of the hill is very challenging, we’ve seen teams split things nice and early, catching a few by surprise. Wind can also be a big factor here, as it is exposed, and this area can be particularly windy too. The official figures for the climb can fool you into thinking it’s not too hard, it is!
Stage 3
Another one for the quick men to sink their teeth into. This is also a stage where we could see a few of the classic’s men slip into the break, looking to get a tough day in the legs.
Stage 4
The organisers have made one change this year; the Queen stage is on the penultimate day. I wonder what kind of impact this will have on the racing; I hope it doesn’t encourage riders to be negative. This is a stage that is very hard to control, and we can see the breakaway succeed. The punchy climb to Malhão is one for the climbers, but puncheurs can cope if they get up the road.
Stage 5
The race against the clock is now the final stage of the race. As Rohan Dennis is here, I don’t think they’ll be much of a fight for the stage, but who’ll take home the overall crown?
Professional Insight
For this race I’m joined by Edward Theuns of Trek-Segafredo. Fast Eddie ended 2019 in great form, and I think we’ll see him hitting new heights this year.
How much of a confidence boost does the wins that the team have already achieved give the whole squad?
“It’s really good! We’ve been talking a lot with the guys to continue the good riding from the last part of 2019 and it’s good that we could start off the same way! Unfortunately Matteo now has a bad injury. Really a pity, because he has fast legs which can get a lot of results.”
You’ve been on a variety of team camps over the winter, the last one in Tenerife up at altitude. Has your winter gone the way you’d hoped?
“Actually all went pretty well. The form is feeling good. The first races are coming up and it’s always exciting to see how the legs react to racing, but I am pretty confident that the form is good.”
You ended 2019 getting back to your best. What are you hoping for from 2020?
“I hope to show the legs from the end of 2019 in the spring classics. They are for us the most important races. Further I hope to be able to do some sprints in the 2nd part of the year.”
There are just 2 sprint opportunities in the Algarve. Will you be the designated sprinter?
“Don’t know🤣”
Why is this race such good preparation for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad?
“I like the race, it’s a good balance between some flatter stages and some climbs. I always like a race in the legs before OHN!”
Contenders
Ineos – they arrive with a ridiculously strong squad for this event. To win this title you need to be strong on the TT bike and climb well, so Ineos have Rohan Dennis, Michal Kwiatkowski, Geraint Thomas and Dylan Van Baarle as options! This is a race that they’ve enjoyed over the last 8 years, winning it on 4 occasions. Both Kwiato and G are former winners and their experience will be very important. Rohan Dennis provides an interesting option for the squad as he’s likely to blow everyone away in the TT, but can he hang tough on the climbs? As neither of the big climbs are that long, he has a good chance of limiting his losses and could go into the final day with a real chance of taking the jersey. Having multiple options also allows the team to ride an attacking race, and not simply sit and wait for the final climbs. After a very slow start to 2019, I’m sure Thomas will want 2020 to start better, but we really don’t know about his current form. Kwiatkowski crashed in December and his winter training wasn’t quite as good as he’d hoped, but he did respond well in Valenciana. With that race in his legs, he should be much stronger in this race and will hope to be challenging for his 3rd title.
Mathieu Van Der Poel – why not? The climbs aren’t overly long, which will make a lot of people think he can survive, but I’m not so sure. His TT in the Tour of Britain showed that he can handle himself in that discipline, but I just can’t see him hanging with the climbers when the going gets tough.
Remco Evenepoel – now, he does have a big chance. He started the season well in Argentina, comfortably winning the title in San Juan. The most impressive part of that race was his TT, he simply blew everyone away with a stunning time. He will hope to put time into all his GC rivals in the final stage, but will he be able to stay in the front group on the climbs? Make no mistake, Ineos will be keen on setting a fierce pace in the hope of putting him and MVDP out the back door. Another slight problem is the lack of real climbing talent in the QuickStep squad, which could leave him isolated in the big stages.
Rui Costa – started the season well in the Tour of Saudi Arabia, but just couldn’t beat the sprinters in the GC fight. Costa was part of the group of UAE riders who completed an altitude training camp in January, and we could all see the instant result in his legs. The former world champion can produce a good TT when he needs to, but it won’t be enough to stay in contention for the race win, but he should be aiming for the top 5.
Bauke Mollema – after ending 2019 in brilliant form, the Dutch climber will be full of excitement for the new season. He’s just finished an altitude block at Mount Teide, no doubt he’ll be challenging for stage wins in the climbing days. Just like Rui Costa, his TT means he won’t win the overall title.
Miguel Angel Lopez – another who can’t win because of the TT. He’ll be looking to win a stage, maybe even two.
Max Schachmann – a rider that can TT. The German will like the look of this race, as he can handle punchy climbs and performs very well against the clock. This is his first race of the year, so current form is unknown, but I expect him to be one of the main men to beat in this race.
Tim Wellens – this is the latest the Belgian has ever started his season, and he’s starting his 8th season as a pro. On paper, Wellens has a good chance in the Algarve. Not only can he climb well, especially on the length of climb in this race, but he is capable of producing an impressive TT. Like everyone else in the race, he’ll have to contend with a strong Ineos squad, but Wellens has the ability to challenge for the podium.
Prediction Time
It looks like a fight between Ineos and Evenepoel. As the British squad arrive with a brilliant looking team, I think they’ll be able to isolate the Belgian and use their team strength to win the overall. Which one of their riders will take the win? I’ll go with Michal Kwiatkowski; he knows what it takes to win here.
David Hunter
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