The 2023 Volta Ao Algarve was a typically unpredictable race, with pure climbers, heavy rulers, and everyone in between having a shot at the overall win.

After the first summit finish on the Alto da Foia failed to make much difference, the general consensus was that the shorter but steeper double climb of the Alto do Marhão would clear things up before the final 24.4km time trial on Sunday which was to be the first of its kind.

To some extent this was true, but the race remained delicately poised, with many possible developments.

"There are still a lot of contenders for the win and a lot of options," said former leader Magnus Kort, who has dropped from the overall lead to eighth place but still has hopes of recovering a couple of places.

Tom Pidcock took the yellow jersey for Cote.

The two riders currently occupying the bottom row of the virtual podium, Ilan Van Wilder (Sourdal-Quick Step) and Joanne Almeida (UAE Team Emirates), are both accomplished time trialists.

Van Wilder is in second place by five seconds after finishing third in Mulhern, but like Pidcock, he has an air of mystery about him, as he explained to Cycling News on Thursday, having not run an angry time trial for two years.

"But I guess it's like cycling," he said. 'I'm not afraid of anyone. I want to give it my all and see how far I can get on GC."

Almeida is a proven time triallist, having finished second in the stage and third overall (by 7 seconds).

"I'm a little nervous. There are a lot of good time trialists here. I'm going to give it everything I've got and be happy for sure."

Behind him on the podium are Bora-Hansgrohe climbers Sergio Iguita and Jai Hindley.

After Timen Arensmann suffered another unfortunate puncture and disappeared in Marhão, one of the three options for seventh place remains in Ineos Grenadier. Dani Martinez followed Pidcock on the climb. Colombia's Dani Martinez is a former national time trial title holder and has a solid pedigree.

Following Cort in eighth place is Ineos' third and most interesting card: Filippo Ganna.

The Italian was tight-lipped about his overall ambitions here, but he exceeded expectations in the defense at Malhão. The first climb was gentle, but perhaps because of Pidcock's repeated acceleration on the second climb, Ganna finished in 10th place.

He was only a fraction of a second behind Feuer until he regained it in Friday's surprise finale, and is now in ninth place overall by a mere 31 seconds. The question is how much time he can take away in the 24.4km.

It is not difficult to take 31 seconds back from Pidcock, and similarly, Van Wilder and Almeida are 26 and 24 seconds behind him, respectively, which appears to be an insurmountable time for the day's riders.

However, Ganna's air of invincibility faded away in 2022, especially when he was outclassed in the World Championships. There, Tobias Foss (Jumbo-Visma) won a shocking victory, and the Norwegian also placed 10th in the Algarve with a time of 32 seconds, making him a major contender for the overall.

He suffered on the Marjaon, but the explosive nature of the final climb after a relatively gentle first climb was least suited to his style.

He is considered, like Ganna, a real threat to the overall contenders after winning the world title and finishing a close second to Stéphane Cung in the Chrono des Nations. However, Cung lost a lot of ground in Mulhane, and his hopes of winning the overall are slim.

Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), in 11th place by 32 seconds, is the last rider who can realistically challenge for the top GC spot, as he has become something of a TT specialist in the twilight of his career, but Oscar Only (Team DSM), in 12th place after another impressive ride in Marhao It will be interesting to see how he fares.

In short, it's all up for grabs, and it's hard to judge just yet.

"One thing is for sure, it's going to be a close race," Van Wilder said. 'But it's fun cycling.'