Volta ao Algarve

Thought I'd seen this mentioned on here by Tom a couple of months ago but couldn't find it.
Anyway, starts Wednesday Lagos to Albufeira
General details here - http://voltaaoalgarve.com/en/
Wednesday route details here - http://voltaaoalgarve.com/en/etapas/etapa-1/
They should finish at the Câmara Municipal de Albufeira between 14.33 and 14.53
As in previous years I've seen several team buses & wagons go past here in the last couple of days so presumably the race headquarters, or the teams' base is at either Alfamar (doubt it though as it's a sh*t hole) or the Adriana Beach Club Resort Hotel (which isn't a sh*t hole)

I wasn't aware of any TV following the race when it passed nearby a couple of years ago.

It's not on Sport TV. Eurosport is showing the Tour de Andalucia and I don't see any listing for a local channel covering it. A news clip or two is the best we can hope for.

I cannot work out which way they will be going around that figure of eight in the Albufeira area.

Anyway,  I am going to watch Portimonense that afternoon.

"Anyway, I am going to watch Portimonense that afternoon"

Are you sure Tom, have you seen the list of entrants/riders? There are some serious big guns there, quite why it's not getting mainstream tv coverage I know not. There is about 6 of the Worlds top 10 entered, would love to have seen this sporting spectacle.

Kittel wins in Albufeira - looks like a decent crowd at the finish

I took myself to the roundabout outside the Portimão hospital where the race came off the N125, swung around the roundabout and headed off up towards Monchique and the hills. There were maybe a dozen people there to actually watch the race plus those of course who were stopped in traffic, including one old boy who was in arm waving mode! Apologies for the picture quality. It was a very dull day.



The leading riders came through seven or eight minutes before the peloton, so the traffic was held for about 20 minutes in all, not what they planned for I am sure. Although a fairly high quality race, it's a big contrast between this and the Tour de France. There are no safety barriers, straw bales etc at sharp corners and they don't sweep the roads for nails and sharp stones. No sponsors caravan throwing out goodie bags either.

The GNR of course have a fine time, zooming around on their motorbikes with lights flashing and sirens sounding. Here's the leading group pulling away up the hill.



With a swish of tyres, the peloton heads towards the roundabout, several minutes behind the leaders



And off they speed in chase.






A few stragglers and the support vehicles then it's gone, leaving the traffic backed up from here to next week.

Have a look here at picture no. 44, you'll recognise it.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-ao-algarve-em-bicicleta-2016/stage-1/results/

Details for 2017 released.

Starts in Albufeira on Wednesday the 15th of February

2017 Stages
Stage 1: Albufeira – Lagos
Stage 2: Lagoa – Fóia (Monchique)
Stage 3: Sagres – Sagres (ITT)
Stage 4: Almodôvar – Tavira
Stage 5: Loulé – Malhão

https://www.facebook.com/VoltaAlgarveOfficial/

A few pics from Wednesday, just after the start, taken before I fell by the wayside.