João Almeida - Bota Lume

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He did ask to do the Tour last year, because he had never done it. He got the best placing he could ask for, even if he was on another team.

For this year I have no idea, but with things going well for him last season and Ayuso's request for leadership, maybe he didn't mind doing the Tour again. I do think he can beat Remco and finish 3rd.
Yeah last year it made some sense to want to do tdf. This year it didn't. I don't know if he can beat Remco. We'll just wait and see :)
 
View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3u5lNRPfRwM


Spencer really likes Almeida lol. Brunyel though says he's probably the strongest after Remco. Which I agree with.

But also mentions Almeida has raced the whole spring.

I almost hope he won't do vuelta. He'll probably just get 🤒
Del Toro on schedule for Tour of Austria and no mention of his return to Vuelta for second year, would be great after seeing Ayuso snafu to see UAE send everyone to Vuelta, cat fight!! Amedida is rolling well all year, maybe Vuelta bordering on too much
 
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Good interview. He is often too diplomatic, but his head is clearly between his shoulders.

He is obviously ambitious, but I find it refreshing that, in this day and age where every talent wants a space under the sun, he says that he is going to the Tour with the sole target of helping Pogacar, no individual targets. I’m sure that he has his own individuals ambitions that he won’t share in an interview, but he knows that without the team’s objective being met his own targets are worthless.
 
Yeah so a GT win is his next goal. Now he has said it out loud lol.
So if they won't give him a GT of his own next year I think 2027 he'll switch team. He clearly is hinting that he doesn't want to do Tdf next year.

Everything is said between the lines nowadays.
Next year, it should be something this:
Pogacar - Tour
Almeida - Giro/Vuelta
Ayuso - Tour/Vuelta (first year doing 2 GTs)
Del Toro - Giro or Vuelta (I believe it will be the Giro)
 
Vuelta this year. We need to have some faith!

No. I prefer to see him in the Giro 2026. This Vuelta is not made for him, specially against Vingegaard.
I don't have faith in winning vuelta this year.
But obviously I wouldn't complain if he won vuelta this year.

But giro vuelta next year. Whether he wins vuelta this year or not he should still do giro vuelta next year :D
 
His contract ends next year, if UAE wants to keep him, they will give him leadership in the Giro. (In an ideal world, they would let Pogacar do the Giro+Vuelta and Almeida the Tour, but no way the team would let Pogacar miss the Tour.)
Makes sense, pogi can focus on classics and the Tour + Vuelta or Worlds, while Almeida rides the Giro.
However pog winning 4 gts in row would be great as well.