Favorites stage 3 Tour of the Algarve 2025 | Last year Van Aert won — who will celebrate in Tavira this time?

The third stage of the Tour of the Algarve takes place in the southeast of Portugal, not far from the Spanish border. The race starts in Vila Real de Santo António and, after 183 kilometers, finishes in Tavira. Wout van Aert won here last year — can he do it again? IDLProCycling.com analyzes the stage.

Course stage 3 Tour of the Algarve 2025

We start in Vila Real de Santo António, in the far southeast of Portugal. The Guadiana River separates it from Spanish Andalusia, while it is also just a stone’s throw from the Mediterranean Sea. An ideal vacation spot, but that’s not what the participating riders are here for. Almost five hours later, there will be a sprint in Tavira. That town is only twenty kilometers away, but the organization has drawn up quite a lengthy stage nonetheless.

It includes two climbs, Mercador (6.2 kilometers at 4.4%) and Faz Fato (4.7 kilometers at 3.3%), but they are far from the finish and are unlikely to have much impact on the course of the race. After about 168 kilometers, we return to the start town, from where we this time take the shortest route to Tavira, where the Tour of Algarve almost always finishes.

The final two kilometers there can be called quite technical, with a roundabout at about 2.3 kilometers, followed by a gentle right turn. Just before entering the final kilometer, the riders must keep left at another roundabout, after which another roundabout quickly follows. Then, in the last five hundred meters, there is a sharp left turn, so you can understand that positioning will be key here.

Climbs
97.9 km: Mercador (6.2 kilometers at 4.4%)
139.3 km: Faz Fato (4.4 kilometers at 3.2%)

Times
Start: 1:05 PM CET (7:05 AM EST)
Finish: 5:40 PM CET (11:40 AM EST)

Weather stage 3 Tour of the Algarve 2025

We are on the coast, where it can always be windy, which is also expected to be the case on Friday. With a temperature of 17 degrees Celsius, the wind will moderately pick up from the southeast in Portugal, but the most logical scenario is a classic lead-up to a sprint. In the finale, the wind will mostly be a headwind.

Favorites stage 3 Tour of the Algarve 2025

The best sprinters in the world are currently in the United Arab Emirates for the UAE Tour, although the winner of the green jersey in the most recent Tour de France is present in the Tour of Algarve. Biniam Girmay, representing Intermarché-Wanty, is therefore among the men to beat in this opening sprint stage, as he is building up towards the Opening Weekend and Milan-San Remo. Last year, Gerben Thijssen proved with the team that they know how to win here.

The Belgians would do well to be in front of the TV on Wednesday, as a whole host of contenders hail from Flanders. Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) stands out by name, of course, as last year's winner in Tavira. Milan Fretin (Cofidis) is also a serious contender as the winner of the GP Almeria, as are Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) and Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe). The latter "won" the sprint on the wrong side of the road on Wednesday.

Casper van Uden is the biggest contender for Picnic PostNL. Men like Sam Watson (INEOS Grenadiers), Dries Van Gestel (Soudal Quick-Step), Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek), and Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ) could also mix it up in the sprint on a good day, but winning is likely a tough ask. Perhaps Filippo Ganna, out of sheer frustration, can get as far as he did in the chaotic first stage.

Favorites stage 3 Tour of the Algarve 2025, according to IDLProCycling.com

Top favorites: Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) and Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Outsiders: Milan Fretin (Cofidis), Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Casper van Uden (Picnic PostNL)
Long shots: Alberto Dainese (Tudor), Madis Mikhels (EF Education-EasyPost), Rui Oliveira (UAE Emirates-XRG), Alberto Brutomesso (Bahrain Victorious), Iuri Leitao (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Sam Watson (INEOS Grenadiers), Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) and Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) and Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ)

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