LOULE, PORTUGAL - FEBRUARY 22: (L-R) Oscar Onley of Great Britain and Team INEOS Grenadiers, Juan Ayuso of Spain and Team Lidl - Trek - Yellow leader jersey, Paul Seixas of France and Team Decathlon CMA CGM - White best young jersey and Matthew Riccitello of United States and Team Decathlon CMA CGM compete in the breakaway during the 52nd Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta 2026, Stage 5 a 148.4km stage from Faro to Malhao - Loule 512m on February 22, 2026 in Loule, Portugal. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images).
The eyes of much of the cycling world may be focussed on Flanders this weekend as cobbled Classics season kicks off with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the Belgian Opening Weekend. Further south, though, there's a similar weekend of racing going on, too – something of an 'Alternative Opening Weekend'.
A host of big names are heading to Valence in South East France on Saturday and Sunday for a pair of smaller hilly Classics, the Faun-Ardèche Classic and the Faun Drôme Classic.
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