João Almeida - Bota Lume

[Krzysztof_O]

Pogi can only dream about winning three one-weekers the same year...he barely wins one. Therefore he'll be a bidon carrier in July...

 

[noob]

Let's just hope he stays well during la vuelta!

 

[Peyroteo94]

Let's just hope he stays well during la vuelta!

I think he will not lead the Vuelta. He never mentioned it.

 

[noob]

"eh doesn't really matter"
On his chances in the tdf

 

[noob]

I think he will not lead the Vuelta. He never mentioned it.

If so Rick is right he's a stage racer Hirshi :O

 

[carolina]

I think he will not lead the Vuelta. He never mentioned it.

If Pogacar doesn't go, he'll be the leader for the Vuelta.

 

[Cycling111]

I used to think Pogacar wouldn't be going to the Vuelta, but from what he said at the Dauphiné, I think that's the idea.

In any case, the year to have a chance was last year. This year, with Vingegaard, he has no chance.
And Vingegaard is likely to go to the Giro next year. He can't put it off much longer.

 

[Peyroteo94]

If Pogacar doesn't go, he'll be the leader for the Vuelta.

That's the problem. I believe Pogacar will go.

 

[P4rthen0n]

"eh doesn't really matter"
On his chances in the tdf

He's right.
A top10 seems doable.
A top5 will require lots of things to go his way (good form, no really bad days, bad form by others, not needing to work too much for Pogacar, etc).
Top3 is possible, but it is even more unlikely.


He's under contract with UAE for the 2026 season as well.
Other than Visma, why wouldn't any other team be looking at him to be their new leader?
I'm looking forward to that.


As for João Almeida's chances for the Vuelta, I think Pogacar and maybe even Vingegaard will both race it, so...

 

[Cycling111]

That's the problem. I believe Pogacar will go.

We have to be realistic; he wouldn´t have a chance against Vingegaard either. The UAE knows this, and they know that their chance of winning the Vuelta is Pogacar.

With Vingegaard there, it might be better for him to have Pogacar there.

He's right.
A top10 seems doable.
A top5 will require lots of things to go his way (good form, no really bad days, bad form by others, not needing to work too much for Pogacar, etc).
Top3 is possible, but it is even more unlikely.


He's under contract with UAE for the 2026 season as well.
Other than Visma, why wouldn't any other team be looking at him to be their new leader?
I'm looking forward to that.


As for João Almeida's chances for the Vuelta, I think Pogacar and maybe even Vingegaard will both race it, so...

It wouldn't make sense to leave UAE to go to Visma. He'd be in the same situation.

If he goes to another team, it will have to be one where there isn't another leader like Vingegaard.
Astana or Ineos

 

[noob]

Other than Visma, why wouldn't any other team be looking at him to be their new leader?

After Remco next year he'll probably be the highest on the market so I gather he could go anywhere Remco doesn't.

 

[carolina]

That's the problem. I believe Pogacar will go.

I'm also starting to think he'll go. Like João says "it is what it is"

 

[Cycling111]

The problem with going to another team is that they would force him to compete in races where he might face Pogacar as a rival.
Or Vingegaard at times of the season when Vingegaard is in better shape than he was in the Algarve.

I think his situation in the UAE is ideal.
Going to another team ensures he'll lead, but he'll probably win much less because he'd be a direct rival to Pogacar in the Tour, and in the one-week races, he wouldn't be riding on his leader's B calendar, he'd be riding on the A calendar, and on that calendar, it's harder to win.

 

[jmdirt]

Great TT climb...and overall JA!

 

[Unchained]

Great TT climb...and overall JA!

Guy absolutely crushed it.. And post race interviews came off with James Bond like confidence!! Impressive finish.

 

[yaco]

The problem with going to another team is that they would force him to compete in races where he might face Pogacar as a rival.
Or Vingegaard at times of the season when Vingegaard is in better shape than he was in the Algarve.

I think his situation in the UAE is ideal.
Going to another team ensures he'll lead, but he'll probably win much less because he'd be a direct rival to Pogacar in the Tour, and in the one-week races, he wouldn't be riding on his leader's B calendar, he'd be riding on the A calendar, and on that calendar, it's harder to win.

How is it ideal? he's won three one week stage races and is unlikely to lead a team at a GC in 2025. And he would get more money at another team.

 

[Cycling111]

How is it ideal? he's won three one week stage races and is unlikely to lead a team at a GC in 2025. And he would get more money at another team.

No team pays more money than UAE.

And what I mean is, he´d be the leader all year, but he´d win much less than this year because he´s won this year in part by doing a completely different schedule to Pogacar and other Tour leaders except Paris-Nice.

 

[YavorD]

How is it ideal? he's won three one week stage races and is unlikely to lead a team at a GC in 2025. And he would get more money at another team.

Not sure many teams are able to pay him more than UAE.
Besides, in UAE he has as much of a chance for good result in GT's, as in every other team.
Also, there might be a certain benefits to be in the best team out there.

Really, not many reasons to leave UAE. He is not gonna start challenging Pogacar and Vingegaard in a different team.

 

[YavorD]

No team pays more money than UAE.

And what I mean is, he´d be the leader all year, but he´d win much less than this year because he´s won this year in part by doing a completely different schedule to Pogacar.

That's where you're wrong. Pogacar's schedule doesn't impact Almeida.. The same schedule is perfectly doable in every other team. He could do the very same races as this year. If anything, in a different team he could do TA instead of PN and possibly win it.

 

[Cycling111]

That's where you're wrong. Pogacar's schedule doesn't impact Almeida.. The same schedule is perfectly doable in every other team. He could do the very same races as this year. If anything, in a different team he could do TA instead of PN and possibly win it.

I've expanded my message. A different schedule than Pogacar's and other TDF leaders'.

Pogacar's schedule this year included the Dauphiné. Pogacar always competes against the best, except for the UAE Tour out of commitment.
If Almeida had done Pogacar's schedule, he probably wouldn't have won anything at Dauphiné. One GC and 3 stage wins less.

In GT, I don't think there's a difference. As of today, Almeida is far from being able to compete with Pogacar and Vingegaard. In the Vuelta, even if Pogacar doesn't go to, he'll have Vingegaard.

His solution would´ve been to try the Giro this year, but that no longer depended on Pogacar. And if Almeida signs for another team, they'll want him to be a leader in the Tour, like Bora and Roglic, who won't be going to the Vuelta because BORA pays him 5 million to go to the Tour.
If Almeida leaves UAE, his main objective will be to go to the Tour. And probably the Dauphiné.
He won't win any of those against Pogacar and Vingegaard. His best result could be third, the same aspiration as in the UAE, except that in UAE he can race in Switzerland instead of going to the Dauphiné and not win.

Romandy isn't usually a target for the best either. Pogacar and Vingegaard haven't even made their debut there.
Almeida benefits from this situation, being able to choose races with less level.
If he's to lead Ineos, for example, they'll demand a more demanding and harder-to-win calendar.

A maximum calendar means less wins.

 

[noob]

We can't speak as if Jonas and Pog were the only riders on earth for eternity. I think Almeida will likely outlive Jonas. Pog might fade earlier cause he's raced harder from a younger age. So it's more about who are the upcomers.

 

[YavorD]

If Almeida leaves UAE, his main objective will be to go to the Tour. And probably the Dauphiné.
A maximum calendar means less wins.

If Almeida leaves UAE he can do the same schedule as this year and win, if he's good enough.
Pogacar's schedule has absolutely nothing to do with him unless Almeida decides to give a shot to MSR and RvV.
Pogacar does 1 big stage race a year and even Joao can avoid him if he wants.

He may win less in a different team but that won't be because of his schedule. This year, for example, if he was in a different team he could race TA and possibly win it, instead of PN against Visma.

 

[Peyroteo94]

We can't speak as if Jonas and Pog were the only riders on earth for eternity. I think Almeida will likely outlive Jonas. Pog might fade earlier cause he's raced harder from a younger age. So it's more about who are the upcomers.

Don't fool yourself. Pogacar is improving significantly year after year. So he didn't even enter in his plateau of improvement. Pogacar will be the top dog until 2032 at least.

 

[carolina]

Pogacar isn't the issue, the other wannabe-leaders at the team are. I'm sure he would've done the Giro if Ayuso wasn't there.

 

[noob]

Pogacar isn't the issue, the other wannabe-leaders at the team are. I'm sure he would've done the Giro if Ayuso wasn't there.

This! His biggest personal objective has to be the giro!