João Almeida - Bota Lume

[Froome]

Some poster will now say: '' This is the same Almeida of last year ''. Clear improvement under Sola. Another nail for the bald fraud.

Firstable, congratulions for him.

In terms of climbing level, he is the same almeida of last years. It's not like he is dropping everyone and top riders in this race.

I don't know if you remember, but almeida was the strongest climber and GT rider in the last week of the Giro 2021.

He is climbing at the same level of riders like Lenny martinez.

[content deleted]

Sometimes you can lose a race and win the same race in the next year, because of a lot of factors, like conditions, route, the shape of the riders you face, the field being more weak. It doesn't mean you are better just because you won a race.

 

[Netserk]

Some poster will now say: '' This is the same Almeida of last year ''. Clear improvement under Sola. Another nail for the bald fraud.

He only rode PN as leader before Suisse last year, and that was also the race he did worst in this year. I agree that he stepped up, but his schedule is also much better for results.

 

[Cycling111]

He only rode PN as leader before Suisse last year, and that was also the race he did worst in this year. I agree that he stepped up, but his schedule is also much better for results.

And in Switzerland, he finished second behind Yates.
He also finished second in Tirreno Adriatico behind Roglic in 2023.

Yates and Roglic are two of the best in one-week races.
Without them, he would´ve won Tirreno and Switzerland. He's in good shape, but he was already good in this races, but he didn't win two of them because he was beaten by two of the best in the world in them.

 

[YavorD]

And in Switzerland, he finished second behind Yates.
He also finished second in Tirreno Adriatico behind Roglic in 2023.

Yates and Roglic are two of the best in one-week races.
Without them, he would´ve won Tirreno and Switzerland. He's in good shape, but he was already good in this races, but he didn't win two of them because he was beaten by two of the best in the world in them.

He was gonna win Catalunya 2022 as well if it wasn't for Carapaz and Higuita's long escape.

 

[Peyroteo94]

And in Switzerland, he finished second behind Yates.
He also finished second in Tirreno Adriatico behind Roglic in 2023.

Yates and Roglic are two of the best in one-week races.
Without them, he would´ve won Tirreno and Switzerland. He's in good shape, but he was already good in this races, but he didn't win two of them because he was beaten by two of the best in the world in them.

He already won 2 one week stage races, a lot of mountain/hilly stages. He already has 5 wins this season, until now this is the best season ever produced by Almeida. There are zero doubts about that.

 

[Froome]

And in Switzerland, he finished second behind Yates.
He also finished second in Tirreno Adriatico behind Roglic in 2023.

Yates and Roglic are two of the best in one-week races.
Without them, he would´ve won Tirreno and Switzerland. He's in good shape, but he was already good in this races, but he didn't win two of them because he was beaten by two of the best in the world in them.

That's exactly this.

Without them, Almeida would had won TA in 2023 and the perception would be different.

If you put Roglic in Itzulia this year, and Remco in decent shape in Romandie, they would had won this races, and nobody was going to say "Almeida is clearly better".

There is a lot of factors who can change the perception of things.

 

[tobydawq]

Firstable, congratulions for him.

In terms of climbing level, he is the same almeida of last years. It's not like he is dropping everyone and top riders in this race.

I don't know if you remember, but almeida was the strongest climber and GT rider in the last week of the Giro 2021.

He is climbing at the same level of riders like Lenny martinez.

I know some of you have a hard time respecting different opinions but you will have to accept.

Sometimes you can lose a race and win the same race in the next year, because of a lot of factors, like conditions, route, the shape of the riders you face, the field being more weak. It doesn't mean you are better just because you won a race.

Lol.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Sometimes you can lose a race and win the same race in the next year, because of a lot of factors, like conditions, route, the shape of the riders you face, the field being more weak. It doesn't mean you are better just because you won a race.

Sometimes you can also lose a race due to the shape of your face, if it's less aero than those of the competition.

 

[KZD]

Having a good schedule is actually one of the factors that makes a rider become better and have a better career, its not just about the numbers.

This is the season where Almeida is stepping up from the 3rd tier of GC riders into the 2nd tier of GC riders next to Roglič, Remco and possibly Ayuso too.

After winning Itzulia and now Romandie, he should be the favourite for Suisse and then hopefully be able to get into a GT podium again, either in the Tour or in the Vuelta.

 

[Salvarani]

Having a good schedule is actually one of the factors that makes a rider become better and have a better career, its not just about the numbers.

This is the season where Almeida is stepping up from the 3rd tier of GC riders into the 2nd tier of GC riders next to Roglič, Remco and possibly Ayuso too.

After winning Itzulia and now Romandie, he should be the favourite for Suisse and then hopefully be able to get into a GT podium again, either in the Tour or in the Vuelta.

I think he has been 2nd tier and right behind the others for a couple of years now with podium finishes in both the biggest one-week races and GTs.

Taking a step forward to translate those good and solid performances into wins is great to see.

 

[Cycling111]

Bad move. Now he'll have to ride UAE Tour next year.

Either him or Ayuso, who I don't think he will continue on the team next year because he'll want to compete in the Tour.

 

[ExperienPT]

Number 1 Almeida fan here

But I tend to agree with froome on this, until now I cant say clearly this is not context only. He did not won against competition that was clearly better than him on prevoius years, and when he did (Jonas and Remco) they were not performing at their best.

Perception depends mainly on results...

But I hope he is better and had improved a lot this year, it would be cool, it would place him just behind the top GC dogs (Jonas, Remco, Pogacar, Roglic, Ayuso?)

 

[James M]

Imagine discussing whether Almeida has improved or not when you can look at his numbers for one minute and see that his threshold has gone up substantially compared to previous years and last year.

 

[Cycling111]

I think he has improved, but not as much as people say.

Almeida was already second in Switzerland behind Yates in 2024 and second in Tirreno Adriatico behind Roglic in 2023.
Yates and Roglic are among the best in the world in one-week races; just have to look at their wins.
Without them, he would´ve won Switzerland and Tirreno Adriatico. The difference is that they weren't here, and Remco lost in this races againts Jorgenson, Sjkelmose, etc. He's not a reliable rider in these races.

I think Almeida has improved somewhat, but I don't think he's much better than he was in Switzerland and the TDF last year.

This year, Remco will be better than him again in the TDF. Remco was beaten by Jorgenson and Carlos Rodriguez in the Dauphine and was far superior to them in TDF.

The difference this year is that Landa will arrive more fatigued, and Almeida will´ve a bigger difference respect Landa.

Without accidents, I don't think Almeida has a chance of making the TDF podium. The TDF podium will be the same as last year (I'm not going to say the order).
The question is if Roglic will be able to challenge Remco after the Giro or finish fourth. Without the Giro, Roglic is still far superior to Almeida.

Almeida will be the best of the rest at the Tour, as he was last year. It's possible with more difference this year year because Landa was the second best of the rest, and he's doing Giro-Tour at 35.

 

[ExperienPT]

How can you look at his numbers for 1m and compare? Do you have access to his current FTP or 5m or 20. vs previous years?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Number 1 Almeida fan here

But I tend to agree with froome on this, until now I cant say clearly this is not context only. He did not won against competition that was clearly better than him on prevoius years, and when he did (Jonas and Remco) they were not performing at their best.

Perception depends mainly on results...

But I hope he is better and had improved a lot this year, it would be cool, it would place him just behind the top GC dogs (Jonas, Remco, Pogacar, Roglic, Ayuso?)

He just beat Vingegaard twice in a MTF/ hilly finish.

 

[Peyroteo94]

People insisting he hasn’t improved are just cherry-picking whatever name, expecting everyone in the world to improve equally—guess what, they don’t.

By that logic, Jonas is substantially worse because he has already been dropped by him 2 out of 2 times in MTF which also isnt true he about same level both times as he was previous years just that other has improved more for instance while he won comfortably producing the same numbers last year. People just so biased they cant see whats right in front of em and which what is very obvious.

Spot on. Can we say Vingegaard is not an alien anymore?

 

[CyclistAbi]

He won both stage races in a rather comfy way, was never really under any pressure and did beat Jonas at a stage or two. So it's rather safe to say this isn't João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida we are seeing, it's Bota Lume.

 

[AmRacer]

Spot on. Can we say Vingegaard is not an alien anymore?

It's not July yet.

 

[Cycling111]

He won both stage races in a rather comfy way, was never really under any pressure and did beat Jonas at a stage or two. So it's rather safe to say this isn't João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida we are seeing, it's Bota Lume.

Yesterday, Lenny was at his level. But Lenny is worse in ITT.

In the Tour, it won't be Lenny, it'll be Remco, who will finish ahead again.
I've read some predictions that it will be the other way around, and I think we're in the same situation. Remco also didn´t win one-week races last year.

Without accidents, Almeida will once again be behing of three riders of the podium at the TDF. Four if Roglic arrives in good shape.

I see similar progress to last year. Last year, his Paris-Nice was disappointing.
This year, let's not forget that he also lost in Valencia against Buitrago.
Over the weeks, Almeida improved. He finished second in Switzerland behind Adam Yates, who, as I said, he is one of the best in the world in one-week races. Yates wasn't there in Romandie, which is the difference compared to last year.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Cycling111

In the end it doesn't really matter, getting beaten at the Tour or not. He is at two stage races overall wins already this season and still counting. At Tour he will likely be there in support role, so it's the Vuelta performance, on where he should be judged this year. I assume Pogi won't be doing Vuelta so the hierarchy will be established based on performance, likely even some mano-a-mano action involved against Jonas.

As for in general, we seen Pogi got caught, Jonas out sprinted, Rogla initiating long rangers, Remco and i guess Bernal building up from injuries... All in all peloton is slowly adapting and gaps are becoming narrower again. Should be beautiful GT season ahead.

 

[Froome]

Imagine discussing whether Almeida has improved or not when you can look at his numbers for one minute and see that his threshold has gone up substantially compared to previous years and last year.

The threshold of everybody improved in the last years.

It's not a factor where you can take any conclusions.

 

[Cycling111]

He already won 2 one week stage races, a lot of mountain/hilly stages. He already has 5 wins this season, until now this is the best season ever produced by Almeida. There are zero doubts about that.

I'm not denying it, nor that he's improved.
I just wanted to point out that I think the improvement isn't as exaggerated as say. Nor do I think he'll finish ahead of Remco in the TDF, barring an accident.

He's improved, but his form isn't that far removed from last year's.
Almeida is a rider similar to a riders of de 90s decade. He's improved a little every year.

 

[Froome]

It's not July yet.

Fortunately Vingegaard is the reason i am not going to retire in July.

 

[jmdirt]

Congrats JA!