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Volta ao Algarve 2011 Live Dashboard
Race Info, Preview, Live Video, Results, Photos and Highlights

Answering journalists' questions before the start of the Volta ao Algarve in Faro. Tour de France champion Alberto Contador returned to competition just one day after his provisional one-year ban for doping was lifted, taking the start in the Tour of Algarve Wednesday. The 28-year-old had been suspended provisionally since August after testing positive for a small amount of the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol, but the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFCEC) on Tuesday lifted the ban.

2011 Volta ao Algarve Teams
Team Rosters and Withdrawals
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Printable Startlist



News and Updates for Volta ao Algarve 2011

 February 20 update: Today is the start of the five stage Vuelta a Andalucía - Ruta Ciclista del Sol from Southern Spain ft. the Schleck brothers, Levi Leipheimer, Sammy Sanchez and Oscar Freire.

Stage 5 results: Tony Martin wins the ITT and the overall


18 Photos from Stage 5 — joão dias/cycloweb
Stage 5 results
1  Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad)        20:53
2  Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil)       20:58
3  Tiago Machado (RadioShack)        21:19
4  Jesse Sergent (RadioShack)        21:20
5  Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) 21:23
6  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)       21:23
7  Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank)      21:23
8  Sebastien Rosseler (RadioShack)   21:24
9  Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil)     21:32
10 Bert Grabsch (HTC-Highroad)       21:35
11 Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step)     21:35
12 Nelson Oliviera (RadioShack)      21:37
13 Frantisek Rabon (HTC-Highroad)    21:37
14 Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank)      21:38
...
   Stephen Cummings (Sky)            21:56

Final general classification
1  Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad)        18:48:45
2  Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad)   + 0:32
3  Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil)         + 0:39
4  Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank)        + 0:41
5  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)         + 0:46
Tony Martin gana la crono y la Vuelta Algarve — biciciclismo
Tony Martin finishing — cdnmo.coveritlive
Le chrono et le général pour Tony Martin — cyclismactu.net
Martin takes stage and overall title — cyclingnews
18 Photos from Stage 5 — joão dias/cycloweb
 Stage 5 Highlights (09:15 ... skip the ads Portuguese) — digitalmaistv
Contador: “Estar ya aquí es un triunfo” (english-translation) — biciciclismo
February 19 update: The ITT will decide the oveall of this race. Race leader Stephen Cummings will be in tough against Tony Martin, Tejay Van Garderen and Alberto Contador. It's a rolling, mostly flat course. It should be good for Tony Martin. See the profile and map (right) for stage 5 details. There will be live video from the finish line. — Steve
Start order and times — biciciclismo
Volta ao Algarve leader Cummings stiff and sore after two crashes — velonation
Contador nervous about Tony Martin in tomorrow’s time trial — velonation
General classification after stage 4 (heading into the ITT)
1  Stephen Cummings (Sky)            18:27:42	
2  Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank)        + 0:06
3  Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad)          + 0:10
4  Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad)   + 0:12
5  Rein Taaramae (Cofidis)             + 0:18
6  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)         + 0:26
7  Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo)
8  Simon Gerrans (Sky) 
9  Wouter Poels (Vacansoleil)          + 0:30
10 Tiago Machado (RadioShack)          + 0:31

Stage 4 results: André Greipel gets his first win of the year


28 Photos from Stage 4 — joão dias/cycloweb
Stage 4 results
1  André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto        3:56:55   
2  Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank     
3  Anthony Ravard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale      
4  Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Cervelo      
5  Allan Davis (Aus) Astana      
6  John Degenkolb (Ger) HTC-Highroad      
7  Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quickstep    
8  Boy Van Poppel (Ned) UnitedHealthcare     
9  Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil-DCM      
10 Baden Cooke (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard

General classification after stage 4
1  Stephen Cummings (Sky)            18:27:42	
2  Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank)        + 0:06
3  Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad)          + 0:10
4  Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad)   + 0:12
5  Rein Taaramae (Cofidis)             + 0:18
6  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)         + 0:26
7  Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo)
8  Simon Gerrans (Sky) 
9  Wouter Poels (Vacansoleil)          + 0:30
10 Tiago Machado (RadioShack)          + 0:31
Stage 4 results — cyclingnews
André Greipel wins stage 4 at 2011 Volta ao Algarve — velonews
Greipel clocks up first victory of 2011 season on stage four — velonation
Volta ao Algarve leader Cummings stiff and sore after two crashes — velonation
28 Photos from Stage 4 — joão dias/cycloweb
 Stage 4 Highlights (10:45 ... skip the ads Portuguese) — digitalmaistv
... more to come... February 18 update: See the profile and map (right) for stage 4 details. — Steve

Stage 3 results: Stephen Cummings surges to the line to win on Alto do Malhão and moves into the overall lead


12 Photos from Stage 3 — joão dias/cycloweb
Stage 3 results
1  Stephen Cummings (Sky)
2  Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) 
3  Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) 
4  Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) 
5  Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) 
6  Tiago Machado (RadioShack)          + 0:06
7  Simon Gerrans (Sky)                 + 0:16
8  Roman Kreuziger (Astana) 
9  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack) 
10 Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo)
11 Sander Armee (Topsport)             + 0:20
12 Wouter Poels (Vacansoleil) 
13 Fedrik Kessiakoff (Astana) 
14 Thomas De Gendt (Topsport)          + 0:24
15 Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank)        + 0:26

General classification after stage 3
1  Stephen Cummings (Sky)            14:30:47
2  Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank)        + 0:06
3  Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad)          + 0:10
4  Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad)   + 0:12
5  Rein Taaramae (Cofidis)             + 0:18
6  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)         + 0:26
7  Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Cervélo)
8  Simon Gerrans (Sky) 
9  Wouter Poels (Vacansoleil)          + 0:30
10 Tiago Machado (RadioShack)          + 0:31
11 Roman Kreuziger (Astana)            + 0:34
12 Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil)       + 0:36
13 Fedrik Kessiakoff (Astana)          + 0:38
14 Sander Armee (Topsport)
15 Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank)        + 0:44
Cummings prevails on Alto do Malhão — cyclingnews
Vuelta al Algarve: Cummings (Sky) vence en Malhao; Contador, 3º (Avance) — biciciclismo
Alberto Contador ‘happy with the result’ after Algarve mountaintop finish — velonews
12 Photos from Stage 3 — joão dias/cycloweb
 Stage 3 Highlights (11:59 ... skip the ads Portuguese) — digitalmaistv
A few more photos — velonews
 Alberto Contador post-stage interview (click the play button, 02:30 spanish) — marca
... more to come...


February 17 update: The Alto do Malhão mountaintop finish often decides this race when its included which it often is. Last year, Alberto Contador won stage 3 on Malhão (see photo above) to set up his overall win and you may recall Floyd Landis won on Malhão in 2004 on the final day to seal up his overall win. This year, Alberto Contador has pegged last year's runner-up by 11 seconds, Tiago Machado, as the man to beat. A win by RadioShack's Machado would certainly be popular with the Portugese, of course.

See Friday's mountain stage profile. But, a fine effort on the final day TT is still required to win this race. — Steve

Stage 2 results: John Degenkolb beats Michael Matthews in a reversal of the U23 RR Championships last fall


14 Photos from Stage 2 — joão dias/cycloweb
Stage 2 results
1  John Degenkolb (HTC-Highroad)          4:57:56
2  Tyler Farrar (Garmin) 
3  Michael Matthews (Rabobank)
4  Baden Cooke (Saxo Bank-SunGard)         + 0:01 
5  Sebastién Hinault (AG2R)                + 0:02
6  Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto)   
7  Filipe Cardoso (Barbot)   
8  Fabian Wegmann (Leopard-Trek)   
9  Gerald Ciolek (Quick Step)   
10 Dmitri Fofonov (Astana)   

General classification after stage 2
1  Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
Degenkolb gana la 2ª etapa de la Vuelta Algarve (english translation) — biciciclismo
Degenkolb vloert Farrar en Matthews in de sprint — sporza.be
Degenkolb lights up Lagos — cyclingnews
HTC’s Degenkolb nips Tyler Farrar in Algarve — velonews
14 Photos from Stage 2 — joão dias/cycloweb
Redux: 21 Big Photos from the Last Fall's U23 Road Race (features today's 1st and 3rd finishers)
Victory Salute — biciciclismo
 Stage 2 Highlights (11:59 Portuguese) — digitalmaistv
February 16 update: Lagos will host the stage 2 finish as they did last year when André Greipel won an uphill finish in the rain. This year, the approach is from the flat coast to the west instead of via the Serra de Monchique to the north which will be featured in the first half of the stage on Thursday. The weather should be partly cloudy with a stiff WNW 16 - 21 mph wind which translates into a tailwind for the flat run to Lagos. — Steve

Stage 1 results: Philippe Gilbert attacks in the final km for the uphill win in Albufeira


20 Photos from Stage 1 — joão dias/cycloweb
Stage 1 results
1  Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) 
2  Gerald Ciolek (Quick Step)             + 5s
3  André Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
4  Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo)
5  Michael Matthews (Rabobank)
6  Baden Cooke (Saxo Bank-SunGard)
7  John Degenkolb (HTC-Highroad)
8  Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)
9  Tony Gallopin (Cofidis)
10 Wouter Poels (Vacansoleil)

General classification after stage 1
1  Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
Gilbert gana la 1ª etapa de la Vuelta al Algarve (Avance) (english translation) — biciciclismo
Gilbert claims Algarve opener with late attack — cyclingnews
Philippe Gilbert takes Algarve opener with trademark late attack — velonation
20 Photos from Stage 1 — joão dias
Alberto Contador relishes return to racing in Tour of Algarve — AP/guardian.co.uk
 Contador, feliz y compitiendo/ The start (02:45 spanish) — rtve.es
 Contador: "Voy a disfrutar de la bicicleta" / Post stage (spanish) — rtve.es
 Alberto Contador returns to cycling (01:18 english) — itn
 Stage 1 Highlights (11:14 Portuguese) — digitalmaistv
More Stage 1 Photos — voltaalgarve
February 15 update: Stage 1 is similar to last year's opener. Both stages started west of Faro, went inland for some hills and then descended back to the coast for a slight uphill finish in Albufeira. Last year, a successful break got away on the descent on the final hill near the finish after Alberto Contador attacked on the ascent. This could be a stage for Philippe Gilbert to give it a go in prep for the spring classics.

Like 2010, Volta ao Algarve is Contador's first race since winning the Tour de France the previous summer except this off-season has been more eventful to say the least. Contador also won the overall at last year's Volta ao Algarve. — Steve
Guia da Volta ao Algarve — jornalciclismo
Pressure on Greipel to bring in first Omega Pharma-Lotto win at Tour of Algarve — cyclingnews

Alberto Contador cleared one day, racing the next

Feburary 15 update: Alberto Contador is cleared of doping charges and will race the Volta ao Algarve — Steve
Contador escapes doping ban, set to keep Tour win — forbes
Contador ‘happy and relieved’ by RFEC ruling — velonews
Official Startlist with Contador — steephill.tv

2011 Tour of Algarve Race Preview

Feburary 3 update: This race in the southern most province of Portugal is popular at this time of the year for its warm, dry weather. Last year's winner, Alberto Contador, will not be back for a repeat bid due to his looming doping suspension. Astana will instead be led by Allan Davis and Roman Kreuziger. The provisional startlist hasn't been released yet, but some big names will be attending. Here's a sneak peak at who is expected to partake. Startlist is now official, scroll down.

Volta ao Algarve is a lumpy-hilly race with this year's 37th edition featuring ten cat 3 climbs over the first four stages before the final day time-trial. Like last year, stage 3 is the queen stage featuring a cat 2 finish at Alto do Malhão. The action on the flats should be interesting too because the region has some of the finest beaches in Europe.

See the stage map and profiles right and scroll down for the list of teams. More to come... — Steve

Volta ao Algarve promising a strong field despite schedule conflict with Ruta del Sol — velonation
Roche back training, will start racing in Volta ao Algarve — velonation
Gilbert changes race schedule to add Volta ao Algarve — cyclingnews
Official Site — voltaalgarve



Also follow steephill on Twitter for the latest race info and video updates.
About Algarve — en.wikipedia.org
Graham Watson photos from 2004 and 2005

Live Text Updates, Video Highlights and TV Coverage

February 20 update: There is live video streaming for the final (ITT) stage. There are also live text updates and then video highlights later in the day. Below is a tentative list of coverage options. More and more precise links to follow. — Steve
VERSUS Tour of Qatar VERSUS Tour of Qatar

media source tv or internet comments/restrictions
live text updates Portuguese; Jornal Ciclismo has the latest updates on the race.
   video? (port.)
  tv schedule 		Portugal; RTP2 will have daily highlights and interviews
   live video (port.)
  tv schedule
Portugal; There may be live video from the finish line for the final day Stage 5 ITT.
official updates Portuguese; Not sure whether the official site will have live race updates
 steephill txt updates
 #algarve twitter grp
 short text updates from any and everyone
check back at race time for more and updated links; email send a comment or a new live link

2011 Volta ao Algarve Locator Map

...no official route map has been published

2010 Volta ao Algarve Archived Coverage