Favorites stage 5 Tour of Algarve 2025 | What a disappointment for time trial specialists who made the trip to Portugal
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Follow us on GoogleThis year, the Tour of the Algarve concludes with an individual time trial to Malhao, a change from the usual finish after a road stage. The first 17 kilometers are flat, but riders must then conquer a 2.6-kilometer climb with an average gradient of 9.3%. IDLProCycling.com highlights the favorites and provides an overview of the stage.
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Course stage 5 Tour of the Algarve 2025
The five-day race in southern Portugal wraps up on Sunday with an individual uphill time trial, marking a significant departure from previous years. In past editions, the final stage often produced a tense battle between classics specialists and general classification riders on a hilly course.
The first 17 kilometers of the time trial are relatively straightforward, but everything changes upon reaching the climb to Malhao. The first 1.5 kilometers of the ascent feature gradients exceeding 10%, before leveling out slightly toward the summit.
Climbs
17.0 km: Alto de Malhao (2.6 km at 9.2%)
17.0 km: Alto de Malhao (2.6 km at 9.2%)
Times
Start: Not yet known
Finish: Last rider 5:45 PM CET (11:45 AM EST)
Start: Not yet known
Finish: Last rider 5:45 PM CET (11:45 AM EST)
Weather stage 5 Tour of the Algarve 2025
Expect 16°C with a light breeze, ideal conditions for the riders tackling this decisive stage.
Favorites stage 5 Tour of the Algarve 2025
The Tour of the Algarve can count on a strong lineup of time trial specialists, but for this particular challenge, climbers hold the advantage. UAE Emirates-XRG has the best odds, with three of the top four names in the general classification (numbers one, two and four) on their team. Race leader Jan Christen is a capable time trialist, but he will likely struggle against his teammate and home favorite, Joao Almeida, who sits in second place. Antonio Morgado, while less favored on paper, could still surprise.
Among the GC contenders further down the standings, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) are expected to put up a strong fight. They are 20 and 23 seconds behind leader Christen, while Almeida is just four seconds behind.
So what about the pure time trial specialists? Malhao is somewhat comparable to the Mur de Huy, which puts heavier riders at a significant disadvantage. Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) doesn't see himself competing for victory, and neither does Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike), according to his team. Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) and Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) find themselves in the same boat.
Meanwhile, punchy climbers like Thymen Arensman, Laurens De Plus (INEOS Grenadiers), Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ), Maximilian Schachmann, Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step), Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), Jan Tratnik (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), and Tao Geoghegan Hart (Lidl-Trek) have all shown promise on a time trial bike.
Favorites stage 5 Tour of the Algarve 2025, according to IDLProCycling.com
Top favorites: Jao Almeida (UAE Emirates-XRG) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Outsiders: Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Jan Christen (UAE Emirates-XRG), Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek)
Long shots: Filippo Ganna, Thymen Arensman, Laurens De Plus (INEOS Grenadiers), Romain Grégoire, Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Maximilian Schachmann, Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step), Jan Tratnik (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) and Tao Geoghegan Hart (Lidl-Trek)
Outsiders: Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Jan Christen (UAE Emirates-XRG), Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek)
Long shots: Filippo Ganna, Thymen Arensman, Laurens De Plus (INEOS Grenadiers), Romain Grégoire, Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Maximilian Schachmann, Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step), Jan Tratnik (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) and Tao Geoghegan Hart (Lidl-Trek)
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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