João Almeida - Bota Lume

[Netserk]

He will continue and then it depends on how much he suffers on the climbs tomorrow.

 

[Rou]

Tomorrow should be easier for him to climb with the sprinters. Today is the hardest stage to survive.
Thumbs up!

 

[carolina]

He will continue and then it depends on how much he suffers on the climbs tomorrow.

Agreed. I think he is waiting for tomorrow to make a decision. If he can't climb decently with managable pain, we'll abandon during the rest day.

 

[Miha81]

Just announced that he has abandoned. Get well soon.

 

[KZD]

Almeida has just abandoned.

Heal well for the Vuelta, João!

 

[noob]

Let's not give ourselves so much importance. Cyclists don't care what four people say on a forum or Twitter.
Almeida isn't going to stay in a race because of what someone says about him on Twitter.

Both, Almeida and his team, have said the decision is up to him. But we believe what someone says on a forum or on Twitter is more important than the protagonist himself.

Twitter isn't everyone. There are a lot of haters on Twitter, but then during the Tour, in the streets, we see that the majority of fans support the cyclists, while some spend 24/7 criticizing them on internet.

Uhm actually Almeida in particular has been incredibly sensitive to every criticism and always tried to prove people wrong.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Uhm actually Almeida in particular has been incredibly sensitive to every criticism and always tried to prove people wrong.

 

[SHAD0W93]

His crash and abandon after being in great form and his successful season hits deep like Klöden’s crash in 2011. Hopefully he can rest and build up for a good Vuelta attempt or comes back for the Italian classics.

 

[Peyroteo94]

A shame but a broken rib is too severe.

 

[Miss Violet Smith]

Best decision for his health and recovery.

 

[jmdirt]

Get well!

 

[noob]

Get well and heal up! <3

 

[Miss Violet Smith]

Fully supportive of the withdrawal, but really sad.

He had a such a great season until now and was looking so good in the TdF.

 

[carolina]

He should be able to recover for the Vuelta, even if it's only to work for Pogacar again.

 

[CyclistAbi]

It was unrealistic to continue so good to hear they made the right call.

 

[greyclouds]

Portuguese sports media (Record) is saying that he’ll extend with UAE until 2028

 

[carolina]

He better demand unquestionable leadership in (at least) one GT per year, (and a sh** tone of money , of course).

 

[Red Rick]

Portuguese sports media (Record) is saying that he’ll extend with UAE until 2028

Nice reminder why cycling deserves to die as it is.

 

[Unchained]

Nice reminder why cycling deserves to die as it is.

Kinda cool how free market works.. UAE is poster child for infighting, that you just can't identify!! Ayuso, Almeida, Del Toro, Jan Christen, couple others all look to wait next to the feast for Pogacar to toss a scrap their way!! You read about 2,3 teams with restructuring and budget increases.. Would have thought that the long wait for the throne would be too depressing for Almeida..guess not if he extended!! And now what to do ,,as everyone waiting for an invitation from Pog to carry his luggage and shine his shoes at the Vuelta..

 

[carolina]

INEOS is losing a great oportunity here. They should offer him whatever he wants.

RedBull (if they can't get Remco) and even Decathlon, should try to get him.

 

[YavorD]

Nice reminder why cycling deserves to die as it is.

Does it really? At the moment he doesn't have a chance against Pogacar and Vingegaard and I don't see that changing.
If any other team pressures him to ride the Tour, because, you know, he is their best and highest paid rider, he can only ride for a podium there.

In UAE he may be able to pick the GT/week long races where Pogacar doesn't start and ride there himself.
Add to that a certain performance boost (possibly related to a different forum) and a bit more money and his choice isn't that strange.

 

[P4rthen0n]

Does it really? At the moment he doesn't have a chance against Pogacar and Vingegaard and I don't see that changing.
If any other team pressures him to ride the Tour, because, you know, he is their best and highest paid rider, he can only ride for a podium there.

In UAE he may be able to pick the GT/week long races where Pogacar doesn't start and ride there himself.
Add to that a certain performance boost (possibly related to a different forum) and a bit more money and his choice isn't that strange.

Neither does anybody else.
Pogacar is always the #1 favourite whenever he's competing and Vingegaard is #2.
We can say Remco is arguably #3 and maybe even Roglic at #4.
But other than that, nobody would be the favourite over Almeida in any 1week race or a GT.
That's worth a lot to a lot of teams... but maybe it's not worth as much as UAE values him as a domestique.

 

[Salvarani]

Makes a lot of sense to extend! Good news.

Can continue to get leadership in a lot races and ride for one of the top teams. Stay at his current level and not step down.

 

[greyclouds]

Does it really? At the moment he doesn't have a chance against Pogacar and Vingegaard and I don't see that changing.
If any other team pressures him to ride the Tour, because, you know, he is their best and highest paid rider, he can only ride for a podium there.

In UAE he may be able to pick the GT/week long races where Pogacar doesn't start and ride there himself.
Add to that a certain performance boost (possibly related to a different forum) and a bit more money and his choice isn't that strange.

It’s not so much about him. As long as he’s getting well paid and promised to ride at least 1 GT per year with leadership or co-leadership, I can understand why he’ll continue with UAE. And I generally agree with your comments above.

What’s frustrating as a cycling fan is that there are not that many riders on his level and there are various that could really with one like Almeida - and benefit the sport. For the same reason I would love to see Ayuso going to somewhere like Movistar.

 

[YavorD]

It’s not so much about him. As long as he’s getting well paid and promised to ride at least 1 GT per year with leadership or co-leadership, I can understand why he’ll continue with UAE. And I generally agree with your comments above.

What’s frustrating as a cycling fan is that there are not that many riders on his level and there are various that could really with one like Almeida - and benefit the sport. For the same reason I would love to see Ayuso going to somewhere like Movistar.

The latter has benefits as well.
Imagine of Almeida wasn't in UAE and it was only Visma with the super team (assuming Pogacar and Vingegaard are close or Vingegaard has marginal advantage), it wouldn't be much fun I think.

Point is, I agree it's frustrating that the same team has 3 of the very best riders, but at least we have 2-3 super teams (yes, I believe Red Bull can and should be up there if they can make their riders perform).
In the Sky-era we still had Sky as super team and no other team could really challenge, so if they have a really strong rider, the Tour becomes procession.