{"id":3235,"date":"2026-07-09T06:04:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T06:04:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/avoltaportugal.com\/?p=3235"},"modified":"2026-07-09T09:14:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T09:14:39","slug":"volta-a-portugal-presents-the-route-of-the-87th-edition-and-inaugurates-a-new-cycle-towards-the-centenary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/avoltaportugal.com\/en\/volta-a-portugal-presents-the-route-of-the-87th-edition-and-inaugurates-a-new-cycle-towards-the-centenary\/","title":{"rendered":"Volta a Portugal presents the route of the 87th edition and inaugurates a new cycle towards the centenary"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Volta a Portugal presents the route of the 87th edition and inaugurates a new cycle towards the centenary\n\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The 87th Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta Jogos Santa Casa, which will take place between 5 and 16 August, was presented this Wednesday at the iconic Alto da Senhora da Gra\u00e7a, in Mondim de Basto, unveiling an edition that marks the beginning of a new cycle for the country’s biggest cycling competition.<\/p>

On the road to its centenary, which will be celebrated in 2027, the Volta presents a demanding and balanced route designed to deliver competitive racing from the first to the last day. Over the course of 12 days, the race will pass through 71 municipalities, make a brief incursion into Spain, return to some of the most iconic locations in Portuguese cycling and introduce sporting innovations that promise to leave a mark on the recent history of the competition. <\/p>

Among the main highlights are the summit finishes at Torre, in Serra da Estrela, and Alto da Senhora da Gra\u00e7a, the individual time trial before the rest day, the cross-border stage passing through Spain and the unprecedented double ascent of Senhora da Gra\u00e7a, for the first time in the history of the Volta a Portugal.<\/p>

In addition to the official route, the presentation also unveiled the four official jerseys that will distinguish the leaders of the different classifications, the new Official Vehicle of the Volta, as well as some of the main new features of an edition that reinforces its commitment to modernisation, the promotion of the regions and the internationalisation of the race.<\/p>

The first edition of the Volta a Portugal took place between 26 April and 15 May 1927. Almost a century later, the race presents itself renewed, with a strategy aimed at strengthening the quality of the organisation, increasing its national and international media exposure and establishing the competition as one of the leading events on the European cycling calendar. <\/p>

A Volta designed for spectacle<\/strong><\/p>

The 2026 edition gets underway on 5 August with a Prologue in Lisbon and concludes on 16 August on Avenida dos Aliados, in Porto, after ten stages that will cross virtually the entire national territory.<\/p>

The route combines stages suited to sprinters, medium-mountain stages, an individual time trial, selective finishes and major high-altitude challenges, providing different opportunities throughout the race and keeping the battle for the overall classification open until the final days.<\/p>

The 87th edition also marks the return of the Volta a Portugal to the Algarve, two years after its last visit to the region, with the municipality of Albufeira hosting the finish of the second stage of the race.<\/p>

Among the most demanding sporting moments are the summit finishes at Torre, in Serra da Estrela, the unprecedented double ascent to Alto da Senhora da Gra\u00e7a, and two stages that promise to define this edition: the tribute to the iconic National Road 222, on a route that follows the slopes of the Douro; and the unprecedented climb to Germil, in the Peneda-Ger\u00eas National Park, ridden predominantly on cobblestones.<\/p>

The four official jerseys of the 2026 Volta<\/strong><\/p>

The ceremony also served to unveil the four official jerseys of the 87th Volta a Portugal Jogos Santa Casa, the foremost symbols of the competition and of the different classifications at stake.<\/p>

The Jogos Santa Casa Yellow Jersey will distinguish the leader of the individual general classification, while the Continente Blue Jersey will reward the best climber of the race.<\/p>

The Galp Orange Jersey will be awarded to the most consistent rider in the competition, while the Paredes \u2013 Rota dos M\u00f3veis White Jersey will distinguish the best young rider, reinforcing the Volta’s commitment to promoting the new talents of cycling.<\/p>

The four jerseys represent not only the different sporting objectives of the competition, but also the commitment of the official partners to the growth and promotion of the Volta a Portugal.<\/p>

The 2026 edition also marks the arrival of EBRO Portugal as the Official Vehicle of the Volta a Portugal, providing support for the race’s logistical operation through a fleet that will accompany the organisation, teams and guests throughout the different stages.<\/p>

Senhora da Gra\u00e7a makes history<\/strong><\/p>

The venue chosen for the official presentation of the race will also be the stage for one of the biggest new features of this edition.<\/p>

For the first time in the history of the Volta a Portugal, the Mondim de Basto stage will include two ascents to Alto da Senhora da Gra\u00e7a via different routes, introducing a new strategic dimension to one of the most iconic climbs in Portuguese cycling.<\/p>

This innovation reinforces the spectacular nature of the race and promises to turn one of the decisive stages of the competition into one of the standout moments of the 2026 edition.<\/p>

More international, closer to the Portuguese people<\/strong><\/p>

The 2026 Volta a Portugal further strengthens its international dimension.<\/p>

For the first time in its history, the race will be broadcast live internationally through the HBO Max platform, complemented by a highlights programme on Eurosport and an international promotional campaign that will bring the image of the Volta and Portugal to millions of viewers across dozens of markets.<\/p>

In Portugal, RTP will continue to provide live coverage of the competition. This edition will also mark the return of the programme H\u00e1 Volta, with three hours of live broadcasting from the stage start municipalities, between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. <\/p>

A race in the service of the regions<\/strong><\/p>

Over the course of 12 days, the Volta a Portugal will pass through 71 municipalities, spread across 15 districts and 15 Intermunicipal Communities\/Metropolitan Areas, showcasing the heritage, culture, gastronomy, local economy and identity of each host region.<\/p>

Much more than a sporting competition, the Volta is one of the country’s largest travelling events, establishing itself as a platform for regional promotion that brings communities closer together, boosts local economies and showcases the image of Portugal to millions of people through its extensive national and international media coverage.<\/p>

International teams strengthen the competitiveness of the Volta<\/strong><\/p>

The 87th Volta a Portugal will once again bring together the 10 Portuguese continental teams, joined by several international squads, further strengthening the race’s competitive quality and international profile.<\/p>

Among the teams already confirmed, the presence of UAE Team Emirates XRG stands out. One of the leading teams in world cycling, it will bring Olympic Madison Champion Rui Oliveira to Portugal, one of the biggest names in Portuguese cycling today.<\/p>

The participation of high-level international teams is part of the Volta a Portugal’s strategy to enhance the sporting quality and international profile of the race, creating a more competitive peloton and further strengthening its prestige within the European cycling calendar.<\/p>

<\/strong><\/p>

Statements:<\/strong><\/p>

Pedro Dias, Secretary of State for Sport<\/strong><\/p>

\u201cThe Volta a Portugal is one of the greatest landmarks of Portuguese sport and a symbol that spans generations, bringing the country together around the values of effort, perseverance and team spirit.<\/p>

I am pleased to see that this 87th edition reflects a clear commitment to innovation, growth and strengthening its international profile, while preserving the identity and history that make the Volta a Portugal a true heritage of Portuguese sport. I am confident that this new chapter will further enhance Portuguese cycling and establish Portugal as a premier destination for hosting major sporting events. <\/p>

I would like to express my appreciation to the Portuguese Cycling Federation for its work in promoting the sport and strengthening the Volta a Portugal, to the municipalities that, year after year, host the race and make it a true celebration of their regions, and to the riders, both Portuguese and international, whose talent, dedication and competitive spirit continue to inspire thousands of Portuguese people.<\/p>

It is thanks to the commitment of everyone involved that the Volta a Portugal continues to look to the future with ambition, strengthening its relevance on both the national and international sporting stage.\u201d<\/p>

<\/p>

C\u00e2ndido Barbosa, President of the Portuguese Cycling Federation:<\/strong><\/p>

\u201cToday we are taking a very important step in strengthening the Volta a Portugal. We are presenting an edition that respects the race’s history while looking firmly towards the future. We want a stronger, more modern, more international Volta that is closer than ever to the Portuguese people. The route we are unveiling today reflects that ambition: it is demanding, balanced, showcases the country and promises excitement from the first day to the last. Just a few months before the Volta’s centenary, we want to continue enhancing this heritage of Portuguese sport and projecting it into the future, always with the support of our partners, the municipalities and everyone who makes the Volta such a unique race.\u201d<\/p>

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Ezequiel Mosquera, Director of the Volta a Portugal<\/strong><\/p>

\u201cIt was not an easy challenge, not only because of the scale and responsibility involved in taking on the organisation of such an important event for Portugal, but also because of the challenge of doing so in such a short space of time. However, our enthusiasm, commitment and ambition to rise to the occasion always outweighed everything else. That is what we wanted to bring to the road, to the route and to every aspect of the race’s identity: the exciting challenge of giving new momentum to a nation’s Tour. <\/p>

The Volta a Portugal is a great race, with a scale and uniqueness that deserve to be seen from a different perspective beyond our borders. From the organisers’ point of view, the goal was to design a Volta that is both competitively balanced and visually spectacular, drawing on its rich history and the immense heritage that Portugal has to offer. <\/p>

It is not just a sporting event; it is about promoting Portugal through a Volta that seeks to combine Portuguese identity with an international outlook; a race that remains true to its history while being fully prepared to project itself strongly onto the international stage.\u201d<\/p>

<\/p>

Bruno Ferreira, Mayor of Mondim de Basto<\/strong><\/p>

\u201cIt is with great pride that Mondim de Basto hosts the official presentation of the 87th Volta a Portugal at the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Gra\u00e7a, the country’s premier cycling event.<\/p>

Nossa Senhora da Gra\u00e7a is, and will continue to be, the queen stage of the Volta a Portugal: a climb with soul, history and a unique mystique that every cycling fan recognises. Anyone who climbs Nossa Senhora da Gra\u00e7a knows they are not just taking on a mountain; they are taking on a symbol of Portuguese sport. <\/p>

I would therefore like to congratulate the organisers for bringing this presentation to Mondim de Basto and for the way the Volta continues to travel across the country, from north to south and from the coast to the interior, showcasing the regions, landscapes, cultures and communities that make Portugal so rich.\u201d<\/p>

<\/p>

Volta a Portugal 2026 at a Glance<\/strong><\/p>