After securing third place in the Giro d’Italia earlier this year, João Almeida is gearing up to rekindle his rivalry with some of the world’s top cyclists like Remco Evenepoel, Geraint Thomas, and Primoz Roglic in the upcoming edition of the Vuelta a España. However, he confirms that his current physical condition isn’t at the same level.
During the press conference moments before the UAE Team Emirates presentation, João Almeida, Portugal’s top cyclist at present, made a statement that might come across as discouraging to his followers.
“My form isn’t the same as before the Giro, as I had a setback after the World Championship,” explains the Portuguese cyclist. “This preparation was very different from the Giro, because I didn’t train as much as I would have liked. But I trained enough. So, I think I’m in good shape. I’ll soon find out if everything goes well.”
Part of a strong UAE Team Emirates lineup, Almeida is alongside names like Jay Vine and Juan Ayuso. “It won’t be easy to face this competition, but our cooperation is good. I think we can compete for the podium,” declares the 25-year-old youngster.
However, the biggest challenge will undoubtedly be the recent Tour de France winner, Jonas Vingegaard, and the powerful Jumbo-Visma team, which also includes Roglic. “Of course, he’s very strong,” Almeida says about the Danish cyclist. “He’s coming from the Tour and had good rest. Even though he didn’t do altitude training, he had good preparation.”
Watch the video with the UAE Team Emirates presentation: