2017 Volta ao Algarve explained

2017 Volta ao Algarve
Series:2017 UCI Europe Tour
Date:15–19 February 2017
Stages:5
Distance:770.2
Unit:km
Time:19h 04' 03"[1]
Speed:40.526
First:Primož Roglič
First Nat:Slovenia
First Color:yellow
Second:Michał Kwiatkowski
Second Nat:Poland
Third:Tony Gallopin
Third Nat:France
Points:André Greipel
Points Nat:Germany
Points Color:red
Mountains:Juan Felipe Osorio
Mountains Nat:Colombia
Mountains Color:blue
Youth:Tiesj Benoot
Youth Nat:Belgium
Youth Color:white
Previous:2016
Next:2018

The 2017 Volta ao Algarve was a road cycling stage race that took place in the Algarve region of Portugal between 15 and 19 February 2017. It was the 43rd edition of the Volta ao Algarve and was rated as a 2.HC event as part of the 2017 UCI Europe Tour.[2]

The race was won by Slovenian rider Primož Roglič for the team,[3] having taken the race lead after top-three finishes in the second and third stages. Roglič maintained a 22-second lead over 's Michał Kwiatkowski from Poland for the remainder of the race, to take the biggest stage race win of his career.[4] The podium was completed by France's Tony Gallopin riding for the team, a further 33 seconds in arrears of Kwiatkowski.

Two of Gallopin's teammates were to each win one of the race's sub-classifications; Tiesj Benoot won the young rider classification, finishing in eighth place overall while André Greipel won the points classification with a stage win and a second place during the race. Juan Felipe Osorio won the mountains classification for, while the teams classification was won by the team.

Teams

24 teams were invited to take part in the race. These included eleven UCI WorldTeams, six UCI Professional Continental teams, and seven UCI Continental teams.[5]

Route

The route for the race was announced on 8 December 2016.[6]

Stage schedule
StageDateRouteDistanceTypeWinner
115 FebruaryAlbufeira to Lagos182.9km (113.6miles)Flat stage
216 FebruaryLagoa to Fóia189.3km (117.6miles)Medium-mountain stage
317 FebruarySagres to Sagres18km (11miles)Individual time trial
418 FebruaryAlmodôvar to Tavira203.4km (126.4miles)Flat stage
519 FebruaryLoulé to Alto do Malhão179.2km (111.3miles)Medium-mountain stage

Stages

Stage 1

15 February 2017 — Albufeira to Lagos, 182.9km (113.6miles)

Stage 2

16 February 2017 — Lagoa to Fóia, 189.3km (117.6miles)

Stage 3

17 February 2017 — Sagres to Sagres, 18km (11miles), individual time trial (ITT)

Stage 4

18 February 2017 — Almodôvar to Tavira, 203.4km (126.4miles)

Stage 5

19 February 2017 — Loulé to Alto do Malhão, 179.2km (111.3miles)

Classification leadership table

In the 2017 Volta ao Algarve, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers at intermediate sprints and at the finish of mass-start stages, the leader received a yellow jersey.[7] This classification was considered the most important of the 2017 Volta ao Algarve, and the winner of the classification was considered the winner of the race.

Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a red jersey.[7] In the points classification, cyclists received points for finishing in the top 10 in a mass-start stage. For winning a stage, a rider earned 25 points, with 20 for second, 16 for third, 13 for fourth, 10 for fifth, 8 for sixth, 6 for seventh, 4 for eighth, 2 for ninth and 1 for tenth place. Points towards the classification could also be accrued at intermediate sprint points during each stage; these intermediate sprints also offered bonus seconds towards the general classification. There was also a mountains classification, the leadership of which was marked by a blue jersey.[7] In the mountains classification, points were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists, with more points available for the higher-categorised climbs.

The fourth jersey represented the young rider classification, marked by a white jersey.[7] This was decided in the same way as the general classification, but only riders born after 1 January 1994 were eligible to be ranked in the classification. There was also a classification for teams, in which the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added together; the leading team at the end of the race was the team with the lowest total time.

StageWinnerGeneral classification
Mountains classification
Young rider classification
Points classification
Teams classification
scope=row 1[8] Fernando GaviriaFernando GaviriaAdam de VosFernando GaviriaFernando Gaviria
scope=row 2[9] Dan MartinDan MartinDan MartinTiesj BenootDan Martin
scope=row 3[10] Jonathan CastroviejoPrimož Roglič
scope=row 4[11] André GreipelAndré Greipel
scope=row 5Amaro AntunesJuan Felipe Osorio
FinalPrimož RogličJuan Felipe OsorioTiesj BenootAndré Greipel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Etapa 5 de Loulé a Alto do Malhão (179.2 Km). PDF. Stage 5 of Loulé to Alto do Malhão (179.2 Km). Portuguese. Volta ao Algarve. Portuguese Cycling Federation. 19 February 2017. 19 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170220092722/http://www.fpciclismo.pt/ficheirossite/19022017181030.pdf. 20 February 2017. dead.
  2. Web site: Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta 2017. Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 17 February 2017.
  3. News: Roglic seals Volta ao Algarve title as Amaro Antunes wins final stage. Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 19 February 2017. 19 February 2017.
  4. News: Primoz Roglic denies Michal Kwiatkowski victory at the Volta ao Algarve. Andy. Charles. Sky Sports. Sky UK. 19 February 2017. 19 February 2017.
  5. News: 24 teams for 2017 Volta ao Algarve. Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 29 November 2016. 17 February 2017.
  6. News: Volta ao Algarve unveils 2017 route. Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 8 December 2016. 17 February 2017.
  7. Web site: 43.ª Volta ao Algarve. PDF. 43rd Volta ao Algarve. Portuguese. Volta ao Algarve. Portuguese Cycling Federation. 17 February 2017.
  8. Web site: Etapa 1 de Albufeira a Lagos (182.9 Km). PDF. Stage 1 of Albufeira to Lagos (161 Km). Portuguese. Volta ao Algarve. Portuguese Cycling Federation. 15 February 2017. 17 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170217223557/http://www.fpciclismo.pt/ficheirossite/15022017185152.pdf. 17 February 2017. dead.
  9. Web site: Etapa 2 de Lagoa a Alto da Foia (189.3 Km). PDF. Stage 2 of Lagoa to Alto da Foia (189.3 Km). Portuguese. Volta ao Algarve. Portuguese Cycling Federation. 16 February 2017. 17 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170217223648/http://www.fpciclismo.pt/ficheirossite/16022017182440.pdf. 17 February 2017. dead.
  10. Web site: Etapa 3 de Sagres a Sagres (18 Km). PDF. Stage 3 of Sagres to Sagres (18 Km). Portuguese. Volta ao Algarve. Portuguese Cycling Federation. 17 February 2017. 17 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170218143134/http://www.fpciclismo.pt/ficheirossite/17022017175250.pdf. 18 February 2017. dead.
  11. Web site: Etapa 4 de Almodôvar a Tavira (203.4 Km). PDF. Stage 4 of Almodôvar to Tavira (203.4 Km). Portuguese. Volta ao Algarve. Portuguese Cycling Federation. 18 February 2017. 18 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170219130723/http://www.fpciclismo.pt/ficheirossite/18022017181519.pdf. 19 February 2017. dead.