"We added some turbo to the diesel"; Stefan Küng swears by preparation race, but changes approach a bit

The Tour of the Algarve has long been regarded as one of the best early-season preparation races, and 2025 is no different. Stefan Küng is one of the riders who swears by the Portuguese five-day race. The Swiss powerhouse is already racing it for the seventh time, having only skipped the 2021 edition, which was moved to May. IDLProCycling.com spoke with the time-trial specialist from the Alps.

Küng has won time trials and stages in the Volta ao Algarve in 2019 and 2023 and has finished in the top ten multiple times. So, it was no surprise that he was one of the few riders who performed well on stage one in Lagos, a finish he knows well from previous editions.

So, what makes the Tour of the Algarve the ideal race for Küng? The quality hotels, short travel distances, or the race profile? "It’s a race with the right balance. There are some sprint stages, but also several tough mountain stages and a time trial. That makes it the perfect preparation race, really."

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Küng never really scored in the Omloop, but hopes to change that

Küng has consistently performed well in the generally flat time trial at the Volta ao Algarve and has also proven his strong form in the tough stage to Alto de Malhão multiple times. However, for 2025, the race organizers made a significant change—combining both elements into a single stage: a time trial finishing atop Malhão.

"To be honest, I would have preferred a time trial like in previous years. Now, it’s going to be really difficult for me to compete against the stronger climbers like Joao Almeida and the others. But we’ll see—I’ll go all out, but I’m not the favorite," said the Swiss time trial specialist when asked about the change.

After the Tour of the Algarve, Küng will head to Belgium as he traditionally does for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. While he has consistently finished in the top ten of other major spring classics, he has only managed that once in Omloop, finishing ninth in 2020. "The goal for Omloop is to start the classics season well and get a strong result. That immediately gives you confidence for the other classics."

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Küng brings in a new coach

"I had a good training camp, but after that, things didn’t go as smoothly for a bit. Now, I’ve had my first race here in the Algarve, where I could get myself ready for the classics. In previous years, I performed really well in the Algarve, but then struggled a bit afterward. We’ve adjusted our approach this time, and hopefully, it pays off in the spring. After Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, I’ll also race Paris-Nice," explained the Swiss rider.

So what does this new approach look like? "We’re always trying new things. The biggest change is that I now have a new coach. Besides that, I’ve worked on my punch, because that’s what matters in the classics. As a time trialist, I’m more of a diesel engine, but we’ve now added a bit of turbo to that diesel," Küng said, who already went down to Flanders in January, describing his new approach in his typically lighthearted way.

The 31-year-old Küng is entering a crucial year, as his contract with Groupama-FDJ expires after seven seasons. "I still have a few good years left in me—I can feel that. So I’m not looking for a retirement contract, let’s put it that way. I want to be in a place where I can perform and fight for wins in the classics. That said, I don’t mind taking on a support role now and then. I feel good at Groupama-FDJ, but it’s also interesting to explore my options."

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