João Almeida - Bota Lume

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mou says on Twitter that he is currently close to Pogi's numbers in training and that he (mou) is shocked by his level.

I know we shouldn't give much credence to the guy but I don't think I've ever seen him heap praise on any other rider like Pogi like he did today.
He also said that Pogacar's numbers this year are another level.
I don't find that credibl, because If Pogacar's numbers are better, Almeida wouldn't be close.
It's also contradictory to saying that Vingegaard will be far behind Pogacar and that Almeida will be third. He should be second

He's referring to Almeida's last KOM, but it's a similar effort to what he put in at TDS a year ago. It's not much better.
In any case, it's nowhere near Pogacar 2024. And if Pogacar this year is on another level, even less so.
 
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Almeida has terrible positioning, numbers aren't everything.
It doesn't matter. He's talking about numbers. He's been saying for months that Pogacar's numbers this year are unprecedented, and now Almeida is close in numbers?

Furthermore, he has misinterpreted the KOM :sweatsmile:

So, and the interpretation he gave seems higher. These are very good numbers, but he misinterpreted them. He's already been answered, and this time those who responded with the correct interpretation are right.
It's a very similar level of climbing to what he did at TDS 2024. At TDS Alomeida, he had no problems positioning because he and Adam were far superior. The numbers could easily be compared to Pogacar's, and they weren't close.

But it's contradictory to say that Pogacar's numbers are unprecedented in 2025, that no one is close. And now to say that Almeida's numbers are close.
 
If Almeida's level is too high Pog should be concerned. Not because Joao can be a threat to him but because he may not pull all out for him. If he believes he can podium he may not give his all for Pogacar.
I know there are many Portuguese people on the forum who don´t agree but he didn't do it last year either, but Pogacar didn't need him.

Van Aert gave his all in Finestre stage and finished far behind. That's always the case with the domestiques. Whoever finishes fourth in the Tour is because has done his clasification.
But as I said, Pogacar didn't need him, so it wasn't a problem.

The problem would be if he needed him this year, especially given Yates' poor shape. The test of Almeida's loyalty would be in a situation of need and if he has to sacrifice his GC. We haven't seen that.

If Remco is at last year's level, I don't think Almeida will do better.
Last year, Remco didn't look great at the Dauphiné, Almeida yes at TDS. But in the Tour Remco was clearly the third strongest.
It depends on Remco being at that level.
 
I know there are many Portuguese people on the forum who don´t agree but he didn't do it last year either, but Pogacar didn't need him.

Van Aert gave his all in Finestre stage and finished far behind. That's always the case with the domestiques. Whoever finishes fourth in the Tour is because has done his clasification.
But as I said, Pogacar didn't need him, so it wasn't a problem.

The problem would be if he needed him this year, especially given Yates' poor shape. The test of Almeida's loyalty would be in a situation of need and if he has to sacrifice his GC. We haven't seen that.

If Remco is at last year's level, I don't think Almeida will do better.
Last year, Remco didn't look great at the Dauphiné, Almeida yes at TDS. But in the Tour Remco was clearly the third strongest.
It depends on Remco being at that level.
He didn't need to sacrifice his own GC last year. But he worked pretty hard in Galibier and Pla d'Adet.
 
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mou says on Twitter that he is currently close to Pogi's numbers in training and that he (mou) is shocked by his level.

I know we shouldn't give much credence to the guy but I don't think I've ever seen him heap praise on any other rider like Pogi like he did today.
Of course is a lie. I don't know why they continue importance to such ridiculous statements from this clown who doesn't know anything.

It is so obvious pogacar can do way more than 7.1 w/kg in 20 min during a training, otherwise he wouldn't even do podium in the Tour.
 
Of course is a lie. I don't know why they continue importance to such ridiculous statements from this clown who doesn't know anything.

It is so obvious pogacar can do way more than 7.1 w/kg in 20 min during a training, otherwise he wouldn't even do podium in the Tour.

I don't know what "they continue importance" means, but it was just me who saw the comment on Twitter and then relayed it here. With the disclaimer that the guy doesn't have much credence. So maybe relax a bit.

If it's just the Strava segment of Almeida he bases this on, fine, he still is off the beat, I just found his comments curious.
 
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I'm not going to assess whether everything else is true. But Almeida's KOM has misinterpreted it. And it's also contradictory said that Pogacar is superior this year and has more unattainable numbers, to now say that Almeida is close in numbers.

I don't know if he'll tell the truth, what I don't like is that he posts photos as if they were his, but the ones he posted today are of this guy :sweatsmile:

He should name the author of the photo, because many people think he is the one who takes the photos and alla are from other people on Instagram.


Unless he's this guy :sweatsmile:

 
I'm not going to assess whether everything else is true. But Almeida's KOM has misinterpreted it. And it's also contradictory said that Pogacar is superior this year and has more unattainable numbers, to now say that Almeida is close in numbers.

I don't know if he'll tell the truth, what I don't like is that he posts photos as if they were his, but the ones he posted today are of this guy :sweatsmile:

He should name the author of the photo, because many people think he is the one who takes the photos and alla are from other people on Instagram.


Unless he's this guy :sweatsmile:

Almeida did that effort after a hard training session (+4000 m of vertical meters). It was impressive! But there is zero doubt Pogacar took a minute to Almeida's time and we will have a good opportunity (MTT in the Tour) to see how much better Vingegaard and Pogacar are compared to all other GC riders.
Everyone else will be 1:15 minutes slower.
 
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I don't know what "they continue importance" means, but it was just me who saw the comment on Twitter and then relayed it here. With the disclaimer that the guy doesn't have much credence. So maybe relax a bit.

If it's just the Strava segment of Almeida he bases this on, fine, he still is off the beat, I just found his comments curious.
Sorry, i was writing very fast and english is not my native language. I forgot about some words.

"I don't know why they keep giving him importance".

He based that statement on the segment almeida put on strava. "Alto de purche".
 
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I know there are many Portuguese people on the forum who don´t agree but he didn't do it last year either, but Pogacar didn't need him.

Van Aert gave his all in Finestre stage and finished far behind. That's always the case with the domestiques. Whoever finishes fourth in the Tour is because has done his clasification.
But as I said, Pogacar didn't need him, so it wasn't a problem.

The problem would be if he needed him this year, especially given Yates' poor shape. The test of Almeida's loyalty would be in a situation of need and if he has to sacrifice his GC. We haven't seen that.

If Remco is at last year's level, I don't think Almeida will do better.
Last year, Remco didn't look great at the Dauphiné, Almeida yes at TDS. But in the Tour Remco was clearly the third strongest.
It depends on Remco being at that level.
From what I've seen, Almeida always seems to be have been a pretty loyal domestique to me?
Maybe not the most useful one, as he obviously likes to keep his own pace on climbs, where usually doms just blow themselves up for a couple of km's and that's not really his forte, but I don't remember any instances where he shied away from pulling for, or helping his leader.

(And I'm not Portugese btw, nor a fan in particular :tongueclosed: )
 
Apr 12, 2025
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From what I've seen, Almeida always seems to be have been a pretty loyal domestique to me?
Maybe not the most useful one, as he obviously likes to keep his own pace on climbs, where usually doms just blow themselves up for a couple of km's and that's not really his forte, but I don't remember any instances where he shied away from pulling for, or helping his leader.

(And I'm not Portugese btw, nor a fan in particular :tongueclosed: )
I agree with your assessment.
If a team leader needs a domestique to set an hard pace in a long climb so that nobody can attack you, Almeida (or Landa) is the guy. I'm thinking of a situation where the GC group is down to 3-10 guys at most.
If a team leader needs a domestique to set an impossible pace for 2km for a lead out (and completely blow up said domestique in the process), there are better guys than João Almeida for that, even in UAE.
 
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