It started at the Algarve Stadium in Faro and ended with an individual time trial in Portimão.

The RadioShack squad did not include Lance Armstrong, but the new American team did send Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Klöden, with both making their European debuts for 2010 in this race.

[1] Though the stage seemed set to end with a mass sprint finish, Française des Jeux' Benoît Vaugrenard put in a winning attack 700 m (2,300 ft) from the finish line, foiling the hopes of, among others, Team HTC–Columbia sprint ace André Greipel.

The rain and the hilly terrain took its toll on them as it did the peloton, and by 30 km (19 mi) to go only Vitoria remained out front.

[5] Repeated early crashes in this stage sent Gert Steegmans, Manuel Cardoso, and Sandy Casar out of the race and to hospitals, though all escaped serious injury.

The Astana team, in particular David de la Fuente, did strong pacemaking, trying to thin the field and set up their leader Alberto Contador for victory.

Xacobeo–Galicia's Nelson Oliviera was the last rider brought back in from the morning escape, just as the ascent to the stage-ending Alto do Malhão began.

Its complexion changed after the first climb of the day, when three riders were dropped and three bridged from the peloton up to the leading group.

The best-placed man in the breakaway was Caisse d'Epargne's Imanol Erviti, who began the stage 5' 11" behind race leader Contador.

The six finished scattered as they crossed the finish line, with Team RadioShack's Sébastien Rosseler securing their first-ever victory, exactly three minutes ahead of the peloton, and Quick-Step's Iljo Keisse in sixth just ten seconds ahead of the main field.

[8] The race's individual time trial is straightforward, with only three curves in the road and several long straightaways, along with a negligible change in elevation.

This affected both the Astana and Saxo Bank teams, who both ride Specialized bikes, but most notably race leader Contador.

Caisse d'Epargne and Team RadioShack both showed well in the time trial, with three riders each in the top ten.