How big can Almeida's pink ambitions be? "Learning school for him and the team"
For Deceuninck-Quick Step this should have been Remco Evenepoel's Giro (20), but after the crash of the Belgian talent, a Portuguese talent is ready to take over the torch. How high can 22-year-old Joao Almeida aim towards Milan?
"Who Joao Almeida is? Very young, a great talent, a hard worker and a very friendly guy", sports director Klaas Lodewyck summarizes briefly.
"He has a very strong time trial in his legs, as we saw on Saturday. And he can climb well and is a puncher."
Almeida took the pink leader's jersey on Etna, but since he makes his debut in a grand tour, there are no points of reference.
"There is certainly talent available, but this is a learning experience for him and for us."
"It would be dangerous to make long-term plans right now. We have to analyze day by day and everything we can do with him is included."
The Portuguese is in any case strongminded. "He knows what he wants. It's up to us to slow him down sometimes."
"It would be very stupid to squeeze him out"
The pink sweater is owned by Joao Almeida. Can they dream of overall victory at Deceuninck-Quick Step?
"To be honest: I don't think so", sports director Klaas Lodewyck replies, "but that is not necessary at this age either."
"We enjoy the pink jersey and we'll see what the Giro brings. It would be very stupid to push it to the limit and to squeeze it."
Sporza