Stage 9 of the 2026 Volta a Portugal covers 166.80 km from Melgaço to Fafe, classified as a hilly stage with a hill finish. Arriving on the penultimate weekend of the race, this stage will suit puncheurs and climbers who can punch over repeated undulations and still contest the final rise into Fafe. With multiple Portuguese and Spanish continental teams represented, racing is expected to be aggressive and selective.
★★★★
Topfavoriet
Alexis Guérin is the unanimous pick at the top. He matches the field's highest Hills score (73), has a Climbing score of 73, and has been the most consistent performer in hilly races lately — averaging 19.2 over 8 outings and recording a podium. No other rider combines his stat ceiling with that level of recent proof.
Anicolor
Anicolor
Alexis Guérin leads the hills stat at 73 alongside a strong climbing score of 73, and backs it up with the best recent form among top-rated riders — an average position of 19.2 across 8 hilly races including a podium finish. His all-round profile makes him the standout favorite for a hilly finish at Fafe.
★★★
Sterke Kanshebbers
Jesús David Peña and Tiago Antunes both merit strong-contender status. Peña has the best Climbing score in the field at 74 and has already won a similar-profile race in the past 90 days, while Antunes delivers a Hills score of 72 backed by a podium and a 23.2 average — suggesting he peaks on this exact terrain.
Efapel
Efapel
Jesús David Peña matches Guérin with a Hills score of 73 and boasts the highest Climbing stat (74) in the field, plus a race win in similar-profile events and a best finish of 1st. His 24.0 average position is solid given the competition.
Efapel
Efapel
Tiago Antunes posts a Hills score of 72 and has delivered a podium finish in recent hilly-profile races, averaging 23.2 across 5 outings. His consistent climbing ability makes him a genuine threat on the Fafe hill finish.
★★
Buitenbeentjes
Artem Nych, Pedro Silva, and Carlos García Pierna form a credible dark-horse trio. Nych's near-19.8 average across 8 races is impressive, Silva leads the form table outright with a 15.1 average and remarkable consistency, and García Pierna's 74 Climbing score is among the field's highest, pointing to upside if the finish is steep enough.
Anicolor
Anicolor
Artem Nych carries a Hills score of 71 and a Climbing score of 73, and has averaged 19.8 in similar-profile races over 8 events — one of the best averages in the field. He lacks wins but has shown the engine for a top result.
Burgos
Burgos
Carlos García Pierna combines a Hills score of 72 with the highest Climbing score (74) among the 72-rated group, suggesting he could excel as gradients bite on the approach to Fafe. He has raced 13 similar-profile events and is due a result.
Boavista
Boavista
Pedro Silva leads the recent form table with the best average position of 15.1 across 8 hilly races, with a best finish of 4th. His Hills score of 70 is slightly lower but his consistency on this terrain is hard to ignore.
★
Om in de Gaten te Houden
Jordi López, Xabier Isasa, Rui Oliveira, and Adrià Pericas are longer shots but each carries a genuine case. López and Pericas offer solid hills/climbing combos with top-10 pedigree; Isasa has won recently on similar terrain; and Oliveira's 73 Hills score and 5 top-10s over 15 races show he can produce when the parcours suits.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Adrià Pericas posts a Hills score of 72 and a Climbing score of 73, and has accumulated 3 top-10s in 9 similar races with an average of 29.3. UAE Emirates team support could help him feature near the finish in Fafe.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Jordi López has a Hills score of 72 and has racked up 13 hilly-profile races in recent form, recording 3 top-10 finishes and a best of 7th. Volume of experience on this terrain gives him an outside chance.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Rui Oliveira carries the joint-highest Hills score of 73 and has 5 top-10 finishes and a podium across 15 hilly-profile races, though his average of 37.3 reflects inconsistency. He remains a wildcard with quality on hills.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Xabier Isasa holds a Hills score of 70 and has a win and a podium to his name in similar-profile races in the last 90 days, averaging 27.8. His recent winning form on hilly terrain is an encouraging sign.
Verdict
Alexis Guérin is the top favorite, combining elite hills and climbing stats with the sharpest recent form in the field, while Jesús David Peña and Tiago Antunes loom as his most dangerous challengers on the Fafe hill finish.