João Almeida - Bota Lume

[scribers]

I am going to go out on a limb and say this is the beginning an elaborate psy-ops to fake out the competing teams

 

[Rob5091]

The old "mass confusion strategy" sounds like to me - that is, nobody knows what the heck is going on!

 

[joseph89]

Spicy, wish he would have just put a name to it.... ayuso 👀

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Portuguese zubeldia

 

[Elos Anjos]

People would be amazed to know that this is actually how Spain and Portugal approach everything:

Every man for himself and then make up some story about it in the end.

 

[SHAD0W93]

People would be amazed to know that this is actually how Spain and Portugal approach everything:

Every man for himself and then make up some story about it in the end.

We found that out repeatedly and most notably 2013 WCRR.

 

[Froome]

Portuguese zubeldia

As a portuguese i like that, but how about the "portuguese improved louis meintjes"?

 

[Sciatic]

We found that out repeatedly and most notably 2013 WCRR.

Ouch!

 

[Sciatic]

There are so many ambiguous and caveated statements from their Tour captains. I'm loving it!

It’s Movistar-esque

 

[Froome]

There are so many ambiguous and caveated statements from their Tour captains. I'm loving it!

There's only one captain, and that's pogacar. The others are there to work for him unless he fades bad.

 

[Squire]

There's only one captain, and that's pogacar. The others are there to work for him unless he fades bad.

The others don't seem to think so.

 

[Froome]

The others don't seem to think so.

Like the Rock says in the WWE "it doesn't matter what you think!". This is what Pogacar will say to them.

 

[scribers]

Well, to be fair

There's only one captain, and that's pogacar. The others are there to work for him unless he fades bad.

I want to believe Pog is disciplined enough to bid his time a little more this year on Vingo's wheel, but who knows. He may feel like the ITT of july-vingo is just too much to overcome and decides to take chances again. There's not a lot of work the team can do in this scenario, so might as well let them up the road to take chances and put pressure on Visma

 

[scribers]

People would be amazed to know that this is actually how Spain and Portugal approach everything:

Every man for himself and then make up some story about it in the end.

I am going to go with the team manager and DS understand this and will play to their qualities as individuals with breaks and chaos to put some pressure on Visma where it might not otherwise exist.

 

[ice&fire]

There's only one captain, and that's pogacar. The others are there to work for him unless he fades bad.

Soler will be in charge of enforcing team discipline on the road.

 

[Rob5091]

I am going to go with the team manager and DS understand this and will play to their qualities as individuals with breaks and chaos to put some pressure on Visma where it might not otherwise exist.

It's not only Visma UAE are contending with this year - there's Bora and QS, so any attempt at "chaos" will result in 3 teams closing it down.

 

[Berniece]

A little early for a rider to cast shade on his own team. Let’s face it, almeida can’t win nor podium, and mind games isn’t going to change that

He thinks he can ride podium

 

[Sciatic]

It's not only Visma UAE are contending with this year - there's Bora and QS, so any attempt at "chaos" will result in 3 teams closing it down.

I can see that happening . . . But I could also see them (in a situation of, for instance, Ayuso getting a big gap) those teams starting to look at one another to see who is willing to burn matches to chase. At least, that’s the idea I assume the strategy is based on

 

[joseph89]

Ayuso will not be given a gap unless his in a group containing Kuss, Landa and either of Hindley or Vlasov

 

[Sciatic]

Ayuso will not be given a gap unless his in a group containing Kuss, Landa and either of Hindley or Vlasov

I’d take that for entertainment value

 

[Rob5091]

Ayuso will not be given a gap unless his in a group containing Kuss, Landa and either of Hindley or Vlasov

I think the overall strategy will be to go hard on the climbs as Pogacar held on when Visma tried to break Pogacar on stage 6 last year. The main problem will be Pogacar will have the Giro in his legs.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I’ve not won a lot, but the level is so freaking high. Every race there is a Roglič, a Remco or a Vingegaard, so it’s not easy to win, but mostly I have been in the top three of races. I’m very happy with how things have been going, and this season I just want to go one point above and get that bit stronger. My mentality is always the same: legs. It’s all about the legs."
⁠
João Almeida of UAE Team Emirates

Rouleur on Instagram: ""I’ve not won a lot, but the level is so freaking high. Every race there is a Roglič, a Remco or a Vingegaard, so it’s not easy to win, but mostly I have been in the top three of races. I’m very happy with how things have been

1,604 likes, 13 comments - rouleurmagazine on January 28, 2024: ""I’ve not won a lot, but the level is so freaking high. Every race there is a Roglič, a Remco or a Vingegaard, so it’s not easy to win, but mostly I have been in the top three of races. I’m very happy with how things have been...

www.instagram.com

 

[scribers]

Ayuso will not be given a gap unless his in a group containing Kuss, Landa and either of Hindley or Vlasov

I would so take that deal if I was UAE

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I would so take that deal if I was UAE

I would too, and yet he was only 19s ahead of Landa in last year's Vuelta. It will be interesting to see whether Ayuso can pick up where he left off in 2022. He had a few setbacks in 2023, so it's difficult to judge how he will develop in 2024.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Somehow i feel that his approach to racing was not a bad one. That is if he can continue to progress.