Alto do Malhão is a staple at the Volta ao Algarve. Last year it hosted a time trial, which Jonas Vingegaard mastered. The year before, Daniel Felipe Martínez outsprinted Remco Evenepoel on the climb, with Tom Pidcock finishing third, 3 seconds adrift.
The course leading to to the final ascent is rarely flat, although it takes nearly 90 kilometres before the first KOM worthy climb – 2.1 kilometres at 7% – appears. By then, the riders are already on the finishing circuit, which they complete roughly one and a half times.
Just over 10 kilometres after that 2.1-kilometre climb, the riders reach the foot of Alto do Malhão for the first time. As mentioned, it is a 2.6-kilometre ascent averaging 9.1%, easing slightly in the final few hundred metres.
Following an undulating 8-kilometre section, the road finally descends, and at the bottom the riders are immediately confronted with a sharp ramp of 800 metres at 10.7%. The route continues up and down until the 2.1-kilometre climb at 7% reappears. Just over 10 kilometres later, it is time for the final showdown on Alto do Malhão.
At two intermediate sprints – 96.1 and 15.9 kilometres from the finish – 3, 2 and 1 bonus seconds are on offer. At the line, the first three riders gain 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds.
Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 5th stage 2026 Volta ao Algarve.
Stage 5 of the Volta ao Algarve starts at 12:05 and is expected to finish at around 15:50 – both local times (WET).
Volta ao Algarve 2026 stage 5: routes & profiles
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