Volta ao Algarve

Spaniards Luis León Sánchez and Jonathan Castroviejo crashed out of the Volta ao Algarve, with the latter suffering a broken vertebra.

Alberto Contador takes the Volta ao Algarve's final stage, while Geraint Thomas repeats as the overall winner

Alberto Contador nabs the final stage of the Volta ao Algarve as Geraint Thomas wraps up the overall title

Etixx – Quick-Step enjoys a successful Saturday in Algarve, with Marcel Kittel taking stage 4 and Tony Martin retaining his race lead

Marcel Kittel beats Wouter Wippert to the line to take his fifth victory of the 2016 season

Alberto Contador gradually builds form into the 2016 season. This is at the expense of results in Algarve, but he says he's improving day by day.

Fabian Cancellara and Tony Martin go head-to-head in Algarve time trial, and the Swiss master comes out ahead while Martin earns GC lead.

Astana cheers Nibali's victory in stage 4 of Tour of Oman, but it also loses Sanchez to a crash in Algarve TT while the Spaniard was leading the race.

Fabian Cancellara earned his first TT win of 2016, beating rival Tony Martin in Volta ao Algarve stage 3. Martin assumes GC lead.

With a narrow focus on July's Tour de France, Alberto Contador is unconcerned that his form is slow to come around at Volta ao Algarve.

The GC picture comes into focus at Volta ao Algarve as Luis Leon Sanchez beats defending champ Geraint Thomas in Portugal.

Katusha's Joaquim Rodríguez withdraws from Volta ao Algarve on stage 2, suffering from an illness he's had since the race began.

Luís León Sánchez climbs to victory in stage 2 of Volta ao Algarve in Portugal, taking the GC lead.

Wouter Wippert, 25, sprints to a fourth-place result at Volta ao Algarve, his European debut with the Cannondale team.

The first stage of Volta ao Algarve is a head-to-head duel between two German sprint stars: Andre Greipel and Marcel Kittel.

Tom Boonen is caught behind crash after flat tire in Volta ao Algarve's hectic stage 1 finish, starting the race in Portugal on a sour note.

Marcel Kittel wins his first duel of 2016 against fellow German sprinter André Greipel in stage 1 at Volta ao Algarve in Portugal.

GC guys and classics stars alike will test their early season form at Ruta del Sol and Volta ao Algarve, which run concurrently in Spain and Portugal.

Cannondale's new GC man, Colombian Rigoberto Urán is ready to get back to racing in his debut race, Volta ao Algarve.

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American team Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies took on the Volta ao Algarve in February. Here's a look at the Portuguese race experience

Phil Gaimon opens his season at the Volta ao Algarve, getting acquainted with stray cats around town and launching attacks out on the road

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Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies will duke it out against the WorldTour elite in Algarve as part of a six-week European swing

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Cavendish collects his first victory of 2014 in the final stage of the Volta ao Algarve

The Spaniard, who had not won in more than a year, says his hard training is paying off

Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) will make his season debut at Volta ao Algarve

Tony Martin rode the final-stage time trial to victory in Algarve. Next up is Tirreno-Adriatico in a calendar aimed at stage-race victories

Results from the final stage of the 2013 Volta ao Algarve

German time trial specialist wins finale by more than a minute to take the overall for a second time

Results from stage 3 of the 2013 Volta ao Algarve

Time-trialist Martin hopes to overhaul the young Colombian, but he will have his work cut out for him

The former track star has come a long way since the 2009 season, winning on a course that defeated him four years ago

Results from stage 2 of the 2013 Volta ao Algarve

The Blanco rider sprints to the stage win and the overall lead

1. Paul MARTENS, Blanco, in 5:07:29 2. Tiago MACHADO, RadioShack-Leopard, at :00 3. Theo BOS, Blanco, at :00 4. Giacomo NIZZOLO, RadioShack-Leopard, at :00 5. Thomas SPRENGERS, Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise, at :00

Dutchman wins Portugal tour opener as Blanco puts two in the top three with late attack and Omega Pharma retools for Friday

Dutch climber and GC rider hopes to return to France in July, but first has to pass a test in Algarve

Belgian injures right thumb in training accident and will miss the Volta ao Algarve

German time trial ace says Taylor Phinney is his new top rival in the chrono as he prepares for his first test in Portugal this week

"Manx Missile" will have time with the family to celebrate his win in Qatar, a win that didn't come easily with miscues in two sprints

UnitedHealthcare may not have turned heads at Volta ao Algarve but Chris Jones counts it a successful European debut

The Belgian GC rider has been working hard on improving his time trialing ability in the hopes of competing for a Tour podium

Porte on Sky: 'I'm back where I need to be'

Sky dominated Friday’s uphill finale with Richie Porte in the lead with a shot at the overall

Team Sky concerned with productive race routines

Time to test my motivation at Algarve

1. Edvald BOASSON HAGEN , (NOR) Sky, in 4:57:23 2. Kris BOECKMANS , (BEL) Vcd, +0 3. Gerald CIOLEK , (GER) Opq, +0

The Belgian believes he can make a run for the podium

Marc De Mar's apparent allergic reaction made for a tough day

1. Edvald BOASSON HAGEN , (NOR) Sky in 8:59:30 2. Gianni MEERSMAN , (BEL) Ltb +0 3. Kris BOECKMANS , (BEL) Vcd +4

1. Gianni MEERSMAN , (BEL) Ltb, in 4:02:07 2. Greg VAN AVERMAET , (BEL) Bmc, +0 3. Matti BRESCHEL , (DEN) Rab, +0

The race features some challenging, early season terrain without being too hard

André Greipel is not one for emotional outbursts, but the usually stoic German sprinter was downright ecstatic with his season-debut victory at the Volta ao Algarve on Saturday.

Andrew Hood sends some snaps from the final stage of the Volta ao Algarve.

“Just being here is a victory,” said Alberto Contador after finishing fourth overall in the Volta ao Algarve.

Stage 5

• 1. Tony Martin (Ger), HTC-Columbia, 20:53
• 2. Lieuwe Westra (Ned), at 0:05
• 3. Tiago Machado (Por), Team RadioShack, at 0:26
• 4. Jesse Sergent (Nzl), Team RadioShack, at 0:27
• 5. Andreas Klöden (Ger), Team RadioShack, at 0:30

Final overall

• 1. Tony Martin (Ger), HTC-Columbia, 18:48:45
• 2. Tejay Van Garderen (USA States), HTC-Columbia, at 0:32
• 3. Lieuwe Westra (Ned), at 0:39
• 4. Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp), at 0:41
• 5. Andreas Klöden (Ger), Team RadioShack, at 0:46

ALBUFEIRA, Portugal (VN) – There are not that many fans that come to watch the five-day Volta ao Algarve, but a good-sized crowd waited outside the Saxo Bank-Sungard team bus Saturday morning to catch a glimpse of Alberto Contador.

Stage 4

• 1. André Greipel (Ger), Omega Pharma-Lotto, 3:56:55
• 2. Michael Matthews (Aus), Rabobank, s.t.
• 3. Anthony Ravard (Fra), Ag2r La Mondiale, s.t.
• 4. Tyler Farrar (USA), Garmin-Cervélo, s.t.
• 5. Allan Davis (Aus), Astana, s.t.

Overall standings

• 1. Stephen Cummings (Gbr), Team Sky, 18:27:42
• 2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Esp), at 0:06
• 3. Tony Martin (Ger), HTC-Columbia, at 0:10
• 4. Tejay Van Garderen (USA), HTC-Columbia, at 0:12
• 5. Rein Taaramae (Est), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0:18

André Greipel wins stage 4 of Algarve while Stephen Cummings leads the overall.

Alberto Contador said Friday that he was satisfied with his third place finish in the day's Volta ao Algarve stage.

Stage:

• 1. Stephen CUMMINGS, (GBR) Team Sky, in 4:56:19
• 2. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, (USA) HTC-HighRoad, at 0
• 3. Alberto CONTADOR VELASCO, (ESP), at 0
• 4. Rein TAARAMAE, (EST) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0
• 5. Tony MARTIN, (GER) HTC-HighRoad, at 0

• 1. Stephen CUMMINGS, (Great Britain) Team Sky, in 14:30:47
• 2. Alberto CONTADOR VELASCO, (Spain), at 6
• 3. Tony MARTIN, (Germany) HTC-HighRoad, at 10
• 4. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, (United States) HTC-HighRoad, at 12
• 5. Rein TAARAMAE, (Estonia) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 18

LISBON (AFP) — Team Sky's Stephen Cummings on Friday won the third stage of the Tour of the Algarve ahead of Tejay van Garderen (HTC-HighRoad) and two-time winner Alberto Contador of Astana.

Stage

• 1. John DEGENKOLB , (GER) HTC-Columbia , at 4:57:56
• 2. Tyler FARRAR , (USA) Garmin-Transitions , at 0
• 3. Michael MATTHEWS , (AUS) Rabobank Cycling Team , at 0
• 4. Baden COOKE , (AUS) , at 0
• 5. Sébastien HINAULT , (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale , at 0

• 1. Philippe GILBERT , (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto , at 9:34:23
• 2. John DEGENKOLB , (GER) HTC-Columbia , at 4
• 3. Tyler FARRAR , (USA) Garmin-Transitions , at 8
• 4. Gerald CIOLEK , (GER) Quick Step , at 9
• 5. Michael MATTHEWS , (AUS) Rabobank Cycling Team , at 10

John Degenkolb (HTC-Columbia) nipped Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo) to win the second stage at the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal in Thursday’s 186.5km run from Lagao to Lagos.

Stage 1:

• 1. Philippe GILBERT, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, in 4:36:36
• 2. Gerald CIOLEK, (GER) Quick Step, at 5
• 3. André GREIPEL, (GER) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 5
• 4. Tyler FARRAR, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 5
• 5. Michael MATTHEWS, (AUS) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 5

• 1. Philippe GILBERT, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, in 4:36:26
• 2. Gerald CIOLEK, (GER) Quick Step, at 9
• 3. André GREIPEL, (GER) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 11
• 4. Tyler FARRAR, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 15
• 5. Michael MATTHEWS, (AUS) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 15

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) took his inaugural victory of the 2011 season in the opening stage of the Volta a Algarve on a day that was overshadowed by the return of Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard).

Charly Wegelius is coming off the two most trying seasons of his 11-year career and feels the spark burning for the first time in a while. The new UnitedHealthcare recruit brings his grand tour palmarés to the upgraded American outfit as it embarks on its first solid European campaign Wednesday at the Volta ao Algarve.

Soon after being cleared of doping charges by the Spanish federation, Alberto Contador is expected to travel to Portugal to arrive in time for Wednesday’s start the Volta ao Algarve.

It’s official: the Spanish cycling federation has cleared Alberto Contador of doping charges in a dramatic U-turn in his ongoing case of alleged use of clenbuterol.