João Almeida - Bota Lume

[Lequack]

He confirmed by himself that he forgot to eat (and I belive him looking at his later performances). When you're bonked you can do nothing more.

Don't forget about Zoncolan as well..

Honestly without the hunger knock and the time loss by having to drop back twice, he'd be right up there with Bernal in 2nd place, and possibly the favorite with the ITT looming. No wonder he was angry at the time, at least knowing he had this kind of performance in him.

Today he was simply the best of the GC riders and hopefully the next team he goes to will have good support for him.

 

[limak_]

Honestly without the hunger knock and the time loss by having to drop back twice, he'd be right up there with Bernal in 2nd place, and possibly the favorite with the ITT looming. No wonder he was angry at the time, at least knowing he had this kind of performance in him.

Today he was simply the best of the GC riders and hopefully the next team he goes to will have good support for him.

He was very confident about his form before the race indeed.

"I am quite calm and not that nervous. I feel like I have had some good results so far this year and I have trained and prepared properly, so I have done everything that I can do so far to be ready and I am confident about my form – I just need to rest and be fresh now and I will be ready."

 

[BlueRoads]

Yes, if he knew he had this in him I can understand him... but then... I mean I was even a bit busy talking him up since last year and saying he should not be dismissed... but I had no idea he would be among the absolute best climbers. And although I defended how his performances in spring had been pretty good... they had not been over the top, no "how can you not make this guy a leader?!" feeling. Look at Caruso, who's second and steady, if Landa was there we might not even talk about his podium potential.
Had Almeida kind of smashed the opposition it would have been totally different, but he was just really good and that was it although he was the leader in some races. I don't think he has a pro win so far?
So... I don't know. I would just really like to know the numbers in training of the DQS guys, which must have led to all these decisions...

 

[limak_]

So... I don't know. I would just really like to know the numbers in training of the DQS guys, which must have led to all these decisions...

We can repeat this over and over. Numbers in training alone definitely aren't enough to asses rider's GT potential. There's really much more other factors coming into a GT success than "having good numbers in training", and you're surely aware of that. And all those other factors (even if numbers not) were obviously on the Almieda's side.

Actually if we'd look at the numbers only I suppose we could find more than 50 different zwifters from all around the world, whose numbers are as good as Remco's were before this Giro, and make all of them team leaders, beacuse why not.

 

[Bonimenier]

Actually would have liked to see Almeida in the Tour this year. Route should really suit him.

 

[BlueRoads]

We can repeat this over and over. Numbers in training alone definitely aren't enough to asses rider's GT potential. There's really much more other factors coming into a GT success than "having good numbers in training", and you're surely aware of that. And all those other factors (even if numbers not) were obviously on the Almieda's side.

Actually if we'd look at the numbers only I suppose we could find more than 50 different zwifters from all around the world, whose numbers are as good as Remco's were before this Giro, and make all of them team leaders, beacuse why not.

Like I said before I'm not advocating Remco should have been the leader, I would have made none of them a leader and only gone stage-hunting, which obviously would have been a mistake. I just wanted to say that maybe it was hard to assess that Almeida would have this level, or maybe it was not, I don't know. I was definitely surprised today.

 

[Panda Claws]

We can debate endlessly whether Evenepoel was given too much credit by his team. Myself, I definitely think that proclaiming him the outright leader after Almeida lost a lot of time early was a bit much. But then again Almeida did lose a ton of time there.

But the main issue is that Almeida himself simply could not claim absolute leadership imo. He rode a strong Giro last year but benefited massively from the amount of time trials and what was likely a weaker field. That's not his fault but it does mean that we need to value that performance appropriately. His other results this year (e.g. Volta a Catalunya) were okay but they definitely did not make you think that he was going to crush the Giro.

To me Almeida looked like someone who was set to ride top-10 and perhaps top-5 at best. Not because it was impossible that he improved since last year but that imo these improvements were not yet apparent in the other races he rode this year.

Under these cirucmstances I don't think it is unreasonable to have Evenepoel start as co-leader. It may be wrong in hindsight and many of you may have disagreed at the moment the decision was made but it's not like Almeida was a world-beater and Evenepoel was a neopro.

Nevertheless, I wouldn't have complained if QST had made it clear that Almeida was to be 'the first among equals' because he did have a stronger GT pedigree than Evenepoel and Evenepoel's preparation sucked.

Essentially this whole debate boils down to how high you think Almeida should have been valued prior to the race and after he lost so much time early. And then I really wonder who here predicted that Almeida would be this good. If you all just predicted top-10 like I did then it would be a bit much to make that person absolute sole leader when you also have Evenepoel who's a very exiting prospect in his own right.

With absolute sole leader I mean someone who can just be allowed to lose 4 minutes on the first climb and yet remain sole race leader.

 

[SafeBet]

Stunning ride today. I will focus on the future not the past. Don't know how many places he can climb in GC but he can be a factor in deciding the race winner. Next year he should be Bora's leader at the Tour.

 

[limak_]

His other results this year (e.g. Volta a Catalunya) were okay but they definitely did not make you think that he was going to crush the Giro.

To me Almeida looked like someone who was set to ride top-10 and perhaps top-5 at best. Not because it was impossible that he improved since last year but that imo these improvements were not yet apparent in the other races he rode this year.

No one ever expected from him to crush the Giro.

And the most important thing about his previous results this year is that he was very consistent. He was just not in the peak form there just yet. He used that races as a build up towards the Giro. He wasn't supposed to win or top3 every race he entered during the preparation period. And as we could see now, he's probably managed to peak with his form just in the right moment.

 

[Blanco]

Evenepoel is the biggest talent in such a long time

Doesn't seem like that nowadays...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Stunning ride today. I will focus on the future not the past. Don't know how many places he can climb in GC but he can be a factor in deciding the race winner. Next year he should be Bora's leader at the Tour.

I think that would depent on both the route and on how Buchmann and possibly Keldermann are doing by then (or Palzer and Uijtdebroeks ). Don't forget that Bucmann looked better than Almeida before he crashed out.

 

[PalcMora]

Nah, he’s doing very well but Evenepoel is still a bigger talent. Which doesn’t mean much considering Evenepoel is the biggest talent in such a long time

I don't get it... why is he the biggest talent in such a long time?
With his age Pogacar had already a top3 at the Vuelta...

 

[Tim Cahill]

There's another one for the list, he's been a busy boy this Giro.

 

[Panda Claws]

There's another one for the list, he's been a busy boy this Giro.

Where did he say anything about Portuguese people?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Where did he say anything about Portuguese people?

He didn't, but some of our Portuguese friends over on twitter and various social media outlets aren't too happy with his team at the moment by all accounts

 

[johnymax]

I don't get it... why is he the biggest talent in such a long time?
With his age Pogacar had already a top3 at the Vuelta...

Because the overhyping in Remco world continues, that's why. But...it is unfair to Remco to judge him after his Giro performance, any reasonable person knows that. We need to wait for next season at least. He is one of the biggest talents in recent memory, there's no denying that. But the truth is, we have riders in todays peloton who are comparable if not bigger talents than him in Pogačar, Pidcock, Bernal and Van der Poel. And if we take a look at a little older generation we can add Sagan and Masnada AKA the Italian Domen Novak.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Great performance today by Almeida.

Still don't quite understand on what happened on stage 4. But i guess that's life.

 

[SafeBet]

I think that would depent on both the route and on how Buchmann and possibly Keldermann are doing by then (or Palzer and Uijtdebroeks ). Don't forget that Bucmann looked better than Almeida before he crashed out.

I think the ceiling for both Buchmann and Kelderman is pretty clear at this point. With Almeida there's some hope he can improve (and remember to eat) in the future. Also, I believe Tour climbs will suit Almeida more than the Giro ones.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I think the ceiling for both Buchmann and Kelderman is pretty clear at this point. With Almeida there's some hope he can improve (and remember to eat) in the future. Also, I believe Tour climbs will suit Almeida more than the Giro ones.

I agree that Kelderman probably won't getter a better chance at a GT win than in last year's Giro, but I don't think we've necessarily seen the best from Buchmann yet. If he had been in the race on the last two stages, we would've had a much better idea about it. Whether Almeida would be better suited to the Tour is also something that we'll have to wait and see about. His performance yesterday was the first time we'd seen him not only being able to hang on on a MTF, but actually being the very best. And if that's a result he can reproduce, then he's definitely good enough to be a TdF leader or co-leader, but I'm not fully convinced he can do that just yet.

 

[Lefebre]

Another almost win, but the score and truth is 0 professional victorys.
If was Remco yesterday in that group he would catch D. Martin and celebrate the victory.

 

[groogster]

If was Remco yesterday in that group he would catch D. Martin and celebrate the victory.

You almost seem upset with João almost win. Don't be upset because he didn't won it after all
For that to happen Remco needs first to be able to keep up with João untill the finish line

 

[Offline]

Another almost win, but the score and truth is 0 professional victorys.
If was Remco yesterday in that group he would catch D. Martin and celebrate the victory.

Why are all you Remco fans so embarrassing and desperate. Your constant comparison with Pogacar and now Almeida is so dumb! I feel bad for Remco.

Almeida did amazing, end of story.

 

[ExperienPT]

Why are all you Remco fans so embarrassing and desperate. Your constant comparison with Pogacar and now Almeida is so dumb! I feel bad for Remco.

Almeida did amazing, end of story.

I think half of the people who says that kind of stuff is being sarcastic and the other half who answers them is being clueless

 

[Red Rick]

Seriously though

Where are his eyebrows?

 

[carolina]

Seriously though

Where are his eyebrows?

Glad that I'm not the only one that thinks about this LOL