Volta ao Algarve Photos Feb 16 - 20

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Tour de France champion Alberto Contador returned to competition just one day after his provisional one-year ban for doping was lifted. The 28-year-old had been suspended provisionally since August after testing positive for a small amount of the banned anabolic agent clenbuterol, but the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFCEC) on Tuesday lifted the ban.	Just like last year, Volta ao Algarve is Alberto Contador's first race since winning the Tour de France the previous summer	The damp rollout in Estádio Algarve
Tiago Machado (Team Radioshack) and the peloton heading inland for some hills...	... where a four-man break got away consisting of Arturo Mora Ortiz (Caja Rural), Christian Meier (UnitedHealthcare), Ricardo Mestre (Tavira) and César Fonte (Barbot-Efapel)	The peloton
Portuguese architecture on an ominous day weather-wise	The break soldiering on building up a maximum lead of seven minutes	No panic in the peloton with Sky, Garmin-Cervelo and Omega Pharma-Lotto setting the pace at the front
Alberto Contador animated the end of stage 1 last year, but he probably found solace in the peloton today	Ricardo Mestre (Tavira) was the last break survivor before being picked up with 16 km to go	It was on these hills that...
... Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) successfully attacked in the final km	Omega Pharma-Lotto normally doesn't win this early in the season ;-)	Gerald Ciolek (Quick Step) won the sprint for second (+ 5s) while Gilbert's Omega Pharma-Lotto teammate André Greipel (on the outside) was third
Your stage 1 winner	Gilbert picks up his first win of the year after opening his season at the Mallorca Challenge in Spain earlier in the month	Ricardo Mestre (Tavira) leads the mountains classification
With bonus time at the line, Philippe Gilbert will take a 9s lead into Stage 2	The day starts and end with the focus on Alberto Contador: Alberto Contador relishes return to racing in Tour of Algarve (AP)

Stage 2:   Lagoa → Lagos, 187 km  Full Results and Report

Two-thirds of RadioShack's Portuguese contingent: Sergio PAULINHO and Tiago MACHADO at the start in Lagoa.	Two distinguished gentlemen with a Barbot rider. (If you know who these guys are then let me know)	There weren't any attacks until we entered the Serra de Monchique at km 20
Ricardo Mestre, leader of the mountains classification, with his Tavira teammates at the front	There were 3 KOMs on the day with the highest one hitting 600m el.	The 3rd and final KOM at km 84 was won by Thomas de Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM) followed by Johan Coenen (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank)
Omega Pharma-Lotto at the front chasing down the break for Philippe Gilbert in Yellow	After the main break was caught with 60 km still to go, a lonesome Caja Rural rider (Oleg Chuzhda) then dangled off the front before the inevitable sprint finish	Omega Pharama-Lotto allowed the rider to get a lead of 2+ minutes before reeling him in
The uphill finish in Lagos with last falls U23 RR champ Michael Matthews (Aus/Rabobank) trying to catch the U23 runner-up John Degenkolb (Ger/HTC-Highroad) followed by Tyler Farrar (USA/Garmin-Cervelo)	John Degenkolb (Ger/HTC-Highroad) gets his first professional win while Tyler Farrar (USA/Garmin-Cervelo) nips in for second ahead of Michael Matthews (Aus/Rabobank)	The main pack finished 9s back
It took the 22 year old German, John Degenkolb (HTC-Highroad), just two weeks to hit the podium for his first professional win	Philippe Gilbert finished 6th today and his lead is now down to 4s over John Degenkolb

Stage 3:   Tavira → Malhão, 179 km  Full Results and Report

Today's main break consisting of Jesse Sergent (RadioShack), Martijn Maaskant (Garmin-Cervelo), William Clarke (Leopard Trek), Jarl Salomein (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator).	The team of the KOM leader, Ricardo Mestre (Tavira) in green, was looking to reel them in	The rest of the peloton including Andreas Kloeden (RadioShack)
Sky's Steve Cummings. We'll see him again later.	Omega Pharama-Lotto's André Greipel climbing the only way he knows how	Riders at the base of the 2.7 km climb to Alto do Malhão
Fans at the top waiting for the action	With 600m to go, it was Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) leading a group of four consisting of Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank), Rein Taaramae (Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne) and Van Garderen's teammate Tony Martin	Alberto Contador would finish second today and sits 6s behind the new race leader...
Here comes the eventual stage winner Steve Cummings (Sky) from behind with 500m to go followed by the home favorite Tiago Machado (RadioShack) who finished 6th + 6s	Here's how it looked at the line. (Click for larger image although the jornalciclismo site has been running very slowly)	Your Queen Stage winner and new overall leader and a bit of a surprise, Stephen Cummings (Gbr/Sky)
Your jersey leaders

Stage 4:  Albufeira → Tavira, 167 km  Full Results and Report

This is the first we've seen of RadioShack's Manuel CARDOSO, here at the start with fellow rider Portuguese ride Bruno PIRES (Leopard-Trek)	Pre-race entertainment	Some young looking riders from the local LA-ANTARTE team
Race leader Stephen Cummings signing in	Alberto Contador pre-stage interview	The early break checking their gap
Team Sky in charge of keeping the gap close for their race leader	The rest of the peloton	The Barbot feed zone crew...
... ready for their man in the break	The break passing through the feed zone: César Fonte (Barbot-Efapel), Kevyn Ista (Cofidis), Johan Coenen (Topsport), Serguey Lagutin (Vacansoleil), Gregory Rast (RadioShack) and Joaquin Sobrino (Caja Rural)	The Barbot feed crew in action
Bardot's César Fonte was fed up and driving the break	Stephen Cummings and Team Sky in persuit	Alberto Contador comfortably following
The break feeling the pain and about to be caught	The sprint finish in Tavira	Omega Pharma-Lotto's Andre Greipel wins at the line
		Greipel celebrates his first win of the year
Race leader Stephen Cummings safely crossed in the lead group	Andre Greipel talking about his first win of the year	Your stage 4 winner
César Fonte (Barbot-Efapel) was rewarded most aggressive rider	The tall podium girls and Ricardo Mestre (Tavira) who retains the KOM jersey	Stephen Cummings loves the perks of being race leader
The jersey leaders after stage 4

Stage 5:  Lagoa → Portimão, 17km  Full Results and Report

Let's not forget that Portuguese woman like to race too.	Riders from the local mens "Gourmette" team.
		Jesse Sergent (RadioShack) was 4th (+ 0:27)
Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) was 7th (+0:30) for 9th overall	Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil) was 2nd ( +0:05) for 3rd overall	Tiago Machado (RadioShack) was 3rd (+ 0:26) for 6th overall -- top Portuguese rider
Simon Gerrans (Sky) was 24th (+ 1:02)	Andreas Kloden (RadioShack) was 5th (+ 0:30) for 5th overall	Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) was 18th (+ 0:51)
Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) was 1st in 20:53 for 1st overall	The race leader at the start of the day, Stephen Cummings (Sky), was 26th (+ 1:03) for 7th overall	Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) once again used his TT skills to power his way to an overall title
Time to cut loose	The final jersey winners + 2nd and 3rd (obscured) overall	Tyler Farrar + the GC Podium: 2nd Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) + 0:32, 1st Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) and 3rd Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil) + 0:39
The other jersey winners w/ Tyler Farrar again