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Besides the carnaval festivities which we celibrated last weekend, each year during the month of February, the Algarve welcomes hundreds of sportsloving fans who come and witness the “Volta ao Algarve”, the Tour of the Algarve for professional cycle racers. This year, the 36th edition took place between 17th of February and today, 21st February. More than 200 cyclists and 23 national and international teams challenged each other to win this race. This race is the only race in the world of “class 2.1″ which succeeds in inviting the majority of the “Pro Tour” racing teams.

Two times winner of the Tour de France, winner of the Tour of Spain and Giro d’Italia, Spanish rider Alberto Contador, who won this race last year, insisted on participating in this year’s edition as well. As a matter of fact, I believe it was his first race after more than 206 days without competition. Last Wednesday, during the first stage in between Faro and Albufeira, in his first day of competion, Contador was attacking constantly. Last Friday, during the third stage in between Castro Marim and Malhao, he won his first race of 2010, and today, he became second in the time trial between Lagoa and Portimao as well. He didn’t win today’s stage only because UCI had made some problems regarding his team’s special time trial bikes. Alberto Contador has won this 36st edition of the Tour of Algarve for the second year in a row, which proofs he is currently the best professional cycle racer of the world. I am already looking forward to this year’s Tour de France where he will meet with 7 times winner Lance Armstrong.

This years overall results:

1) Alberto Contador.

2) Luis Sanchez.

3) Tiago Machado.

4) Levi Leipheimer.

5) Samuel Gonzalez.

Having been a cycle race fan all my life, it was pretty normal for me that I was following this year’s event pretty closely. Obviously, I also took some pictures.

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Every year, around this time, international cycle racing comes to the Algarve. This week, for the 35th time, the “Volta ao Algarve”, the Tour of the Algarve for professional cycle racers is being organised. The race started on Wednesday, and will end the day after tomorrow, on Sunday. Today, the third stage had its start in Vila Réal de Santo António, just around the corner from where I live.

Having grown up in Belgium, in a family with cycle race addicts, every year, I go and watch at least one time the start or the finish of a stage in this race. So this morning, I was in Vila Réal de Santo António and, as every year, I enjoyed being there. Obviously I took some pictures, and I am sure at least one person in Belgium will enjoy them as well. He probably will be a bit envious of not having been here today. I am talking about my father. So dad, I put these pictures below especiously for you…

Tomorrow, the fourth stage of the Tour of the Algarve is a time trial, between Castro Marim and Tavira. On pretty hilly roads, where I always suffer when going out on my mountain bike. I will be somewhere along the road, watching these professional athletes on their bikes, at speeds I can only dream off…

Enjoy the pictures below…

Catching up with my old friend Rik Van Slycke, currently one of the directors of Belgian Quick Step Team.

Stijn De Volder, former Belgian Professional Cycle Race Champion and last year winner of the Tour d’Algarve and the Tour of Flanders.

Alberto Contador, winner of the 2007 Tour de France, and last year winner of the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta de España.

And off they go…

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