João Almeida - Bota Lume

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We all know his way of pacing climbs is... unconventional. Is there any physiological reason why hes never able to respond to anything but always has watts to spare at the finish, like he can only go in the red once and needs more time to recover from an acceleration than others? Or is he held back because he's too afraid of overextending, and could potentially get better results if he dared to follow? Judging from today and in portugal he evidently has the explosivity to follow if he so decides...

I'm wondering about this because in the portugal tt he also paced it extremely conservatively.
 
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We all know his way of pacing climbs is... unconventional. Is there any physiological reason why hes never able to respond to anything but always has watts to spare at the finish, like he can only go in the red once and needs more time to recover from an acceleration than others? Or is he held back because he's too afraid of overextending, and could potentially get better results if he dared to follow? Judging from today and in portugal he evidently has the explosivity to follow if he so decides...

I'm wondering about this because in the portugal tt he also paced it extremely conservatively.
This. He is too afraid to be honest.
 
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This. He is too afraid to be honest.
Afraid yes, but I think it's not just nerves, because it's so rigid that it seems almost compulsive. He relies on his power meter in an almost ritualistic or religious kind of way.

I don't think he can do it in any other way though. He does ride like that for some reason. I'm thankful for it as it makes it way more exciting to watch.
 
Some cyclists are excellent at bringing their heart rate to a high level and maintaining it, but don't have the physiology for quick fluctuations. There's a really famous example, when Armstrong crashed on Luz Ardiden (2003 stage 15) and Ulle waited he lost The Tour right there, not because he gave up the opportunity to gain time, but because when he stopped riding his BPM went right down and he was unable to get it back to the required level to follow Lance. It's probably just more efficient for Joao to ride like this, even though he might have to push a higher w/kg with less draft having to go into the red would have more detrimental effects.

VDP is the polar opposite of Almeida for example, can go through the zones effortlessly and not pay for it, demonstrated in the Glasgow course with all those ridiculous corners.
 
The way he finished yesterday and on Fóia proves that he has a new finish on the climbs. We didn't see stuff like that before from him.
What is more impressive is how a portuguese forum member is almost desiring Almeida to fail just because he is in the same team of Pogacar. This climb is Almeida's kryptonite and he did a good job. How can someone saying he is not better when he is doing his best spring campaign ever, beating an all time great like Vingegaard twice in two MTF.
And again, we are talking about a portuguese cycling fan depreciating our best rider ever (or second best).
 
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What is more impressive is how a portuguese forum member is almost desiring Almeida to fail just because he is in the same team of Pogacar. This climb is Almeida's kryptonite and he did a good job. How can someone saying he is not better when he is doing his best spring campaign ever, besting an all time great like Vingegaard twice in two MTF.
And again, we are talking about a portuguese cycling fan depreciating our best rider ever (or second best).
Almost as outrageous as if perhaps toby didn't like Vingegaard.
 
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What is more impressive is how a portuguese forum member is almost desiring Almeida to fail just because he is in the same team of Pogacar. This climb is Almeida's kryptonite and he did a good job. How can someone saying he is not better when he is doing his best spring campaign ever, besting an all time great like Vingegaard twice in two MTF.
And again, we are talking about a portuguese cycling fan depreciating our best rider ever (or second best).
I wasn't doing any depreciation to Almeida. I just think he is not better than last year. Can i have a different opinion?

I have nothing against him, i even said some days ago in this thread that i woud love to see him being the superdom of Vingegaard.
 
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