João Almeida - Bota Lume

[CyclistAbi]

If tomorrow Almeida finds his Angliru legs he has a chance of winning GC

There is a slim chance but only if the UAE team as a whole will support such effort to the fullest, otherwise i don't see on how he could crack Jonas alone in such way. Jonas won't crack unless put under extreme pressure. Then it's possible, considering what we seen so far.

But i wouldn't be surprised if they will rather target another (useless) stage win and not by Almeida.

 

[greyclouds]

There is a slim chance but only if the UAE team as a whole will support such effort to the fullest, otherwise i don't see on how he could crack Jonas alone in such way. Jonas won't crack unless put under extreme pressure. Then it's possible, considering what we seen so far.

But i wouldn't be surprised if they will rather target another (useless) stage win and not by Almeida.

Surely UAE will ride for Almeida but that might not be enough. They will need to ride Navacerrada’s first pass hard to test Jonas and get Almeida over the top first - there’s 6” there which together with the finish line bonis might be a game changer either way.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Surely UAE will ride for Almeida ...

Yeah, about that.

 

[dazaau]

Surely UAE will ride for Almeida but that might not be enough. They will need to ride Navacerrada’s first pass hard to test Jonas and get Almeida over the top first - there’s 6” there which together with the finish line bonis might be a game changer either way.

They may find an alliance with RBH as they will need to fry pidcocks legs before the final climb to have a hope of the podium.

Really there should be two teams looking to defend their positions and two trying to blow it up.

 

[Cycling111]

I said it on the day of Angliru, which was the most difficult day to say,for me, Almeida was closer to fourth place in the Tour than Vingegaard.

With the fatigue from the Tour, I don't think Almeida would have even been equal to Vingegaard in Angliru.

For me, Almeida would have had a Tour similar to last year. This year he would have finished third due to Remco's level, but he wouldn't have challenged againtsVingegaard for second place under any circumstances.

He's improved; he's at the peak age for a cyclist, 26-30. But I also think he's chosen the calendar better.
Last year, he didn't win Switzerland because he left it to Adam, but already he was far superior to the rest.

We'll see if he can win a GT. Next year, it looks like Vingegaard will go to the Giro, and we don't know when Pogacar will be at the Vuelta.

It must be a little frustrating to feel so close yet so far away at the same time. Meanwhile, Hindley and Kuss have a GT. He has to keep trying to see if he can get one, but he's definitely behind Vingegaard.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I said it on the day of Angliru, which was the most difficult day to say,for me, Almeida was closer to fourth place in the Tour than Vingegaard.

With the fatigue from the Tour, I don't think Almeida would have even been equal to Vingegaard in Angliru.

For me, Almeida would have had a Tour similar to last year. This year he would have finished third due to Remco's level, but he wouldn't have challenged againtsVingegaard for second place under any circumstances.

He's improved; he's at the peak age for a cyclist, 26-30. But I also think he's chosen the calendar better.
Last year, he didn't win Switzerland because he left it to Adam, but already he was far superior to the rest.

We'll see if he can win a GT. Next year, it looks like Vingegaard will go to the Giro, and we don't know when Pogacar will be at the Vuelta.

It must be a little frustrating to feel so close yet so far away at the same time. Meanwhile, Hindley and Kuss have a GT. He has to keep trying to see if he can get one, but he's definitely behind Vingegaard.

Humans need to target GTs aliens aren't racing.
Next year, I believe Pogacar will do Tour-Vuelta because Vingegaard will race the Giro and I expect Pogacar to win more comfortably the Tour.
Vingegaard- Giro
Pogacar- Tour
Pogacar- Vuelta

Nothing for humans

 

[tobydawq]

Too bad with the rib injury from the Tour, I think that prevented him from winning this race (because Vingegaard was very subpar too, if both would be on their highest level, no chance). But he's getting closer and closer even if on paper he has only moved from 4th to 2nd since his debut Giro five years ago.

But I really would like to see him win a Grand Tour. I find his unflappable nature highly amusing and am curious to see how he would react to actually winning one of these.

 

[AmRacer]

Too bad with the rib injury from the Tour, I think that prevented him from winning this race (because Vingegaard was very subpar too, if both would be on their highest level, no chance). But he's getting closer and closer even if on paper he has only moved from 4th to 2nd since his debut Giro five years ago.

But I really would like to see him win a Grand Tour. I find his unflappable nature highly amusing and am curious to see how he would react to actually winning one of these.

He must wait for one GT without Pogi and Jonas.

 

[Netserk]

Too bad with the rib injury from the Tour, I think that prevented him from winning this race (because Vingegaard was very subpar too, if both would be on their highest level, no chance). But he's getting closer and closer even if on paper he has only moved from 4th to 2nd since his debut Giro five years ago.

But I really would like to see him win a Grand Tour. I find his unflappable nature highly amusing and am curious to see how he would react to actually winning one of these.

If he had fought for the Tour podium, I don't think he'd have been better here. He has had a busy schedule.

 

[tobydawq]

If he had fought for the Tour podium, I don't think he'd have been better here. He has had a busy schedule.

He has indeed.

 

[carolina]

Almeida will ride the Giro next year, from what the portuguese guys at eurosport said today. (One of them spoke with Almeida's father some time ago).

 

[Netserk]

Almeida will ride the Giro next year, from what the portuguese guys at eurosport said today. (One of them spoke with Almeida's father some time ago).

That sounds sensible. He should hope Adam joins him.

 

[staubsauger]

Almeida will ride the Giro next year, from what the portuguese guys at eurosport said today. (One of them spoke with Almeida's father some time ago).

Almeida & Del Torro Co-leadership against potentially Vingegaard again sounds wisely for a path to beat him!

 

[CyclistAbi]

Good performance at Vuelta but somehow i feel that it only further confirmed that Almeida will find it hard, to be fully supported as a team leader at a GT race, riding for UAE. So it's up to him if he is happy with that or not.

 

[carolina]

Rumours say he renewed with UAE until 2028. I really hope he demanded some proper help.

Still no portuguese team announced for the WC, but I'm assuming he'll do both races. He should be able to top 10 the ITT, maybe top 5?!

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Rumours say he renewed with UAE until 2028. I really hope he demanded some proper help.

Pogacar helping him in one GT per year would be sufficient domestique strength, methinks!

 

[solo80k]

Good performance at Vuelta but somehow i feel that it only further confirmed that Almeida will find it hard, to be fully supported as a team leader at a GT race, riding for UAE. So it's up to him if he is happy with that or not.

Still, he wouldn't get top spot. He would constantly fail against Pog and Jonas as long as they are prepared. It's a duopoly with UAE & Visma occupying 1-2 in all 3 GTs this year. The last rider who won GT outside of them was Roglic 2024 with Bora, but again in 2023 all 3 GTs were won by Visma. It's highly unlikely to win GT outside these 2 super teams... for years.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Still, he wouldn't get top spot. He would constantly fail against Pog and Jonas as long as they are prepared. It's a duopoly with UAE & Visma occupying 1-2 in all 3 GTs this year. The last rider who won GT outside of them was Roglic 2024 with Bora, but again in 2023 all 3 GTs were won by Visma. It's highly unlikely to win GT outside these 2 super teams... for years.

I feel that RBH will demand a spot, going into 2026 season, but still, Almeida is riding for UAE and as you say they win GTs. Unless i guess Almeida is their leader, then they win stages.

 

[P4rthen0n]

I feel that RBH will demand a spot, going into 2026 season, but still, Almeida is riding for UAE and as you say they win GTs. Unless i guess Almeida is their leader, then they win stages.

If there isn't a Pogacar, Vingegaard or a super Remco in the race, João Almeida might still be the favourite.
Regardless, if you're competing for at least podium in a GT, your team has to back you up.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@P4rthen0n

Almeida likely won't be supported so it will be hard for him to win a GT with this team. Week long stage races are more likely goal.

 

[Squire]

@P4rthen0n

Almeida likely won't be supported so it will be hard for him to win a GT with this team. Week long stage races are more likely goal.

What do you mean? On paper, the UAE Giro team this year was much stronger climbing-wise than the Tour team, except Almeida himself being a godlike domestique for the latter. But that didn't last long. The Vuelta team was also on par with the Tour team. And yes of course you had Team Ayuso, Team Vine and Team Soler doing their thing, but it's not like UAE can't or won't provide Almeida with a good team for a GC bid.

 

[CyclistAbi]

What do you mean? On paper, the UAE Giro team this year was much stronger climbing-wise than the Tour team, except Almeida himself being a godlike domestique for the latter. But that didn't last long. The Vuelta team was also on par with the Tour team. And yes of course you had Team Ayuso, Team Vine and Team Soler doing their thing, but it's not like UAE can't or won't provide Almeida with a good team for a GC bid.

I mean that their GT team(s) through the season will mostly support Pogi as a leader, as for the rest you are on your own. Considering on how Almeida rode Vuelta 25 one can i guess giver him some benefit of a doubt, that even without the team supporting him he might win a GT. Unless i guess one of his co-leaders beats him to it, some youngster.

 

[Bolder]

Still, he wouldn't get top spot. He would constantly fail against Pog and Jonas as long as they are prepared. It's a duopoly with UAE & Visma occupying 1-2 in all 3 GTs this year. The last rider who won GT outside of them was Roglic 2024 with Bora, but again in 2023 all 3 GTs were won by Visma. It's highly unlikely to win GT outside these 2 super teams... for years.

It would be a major fail for me if RB don't at least get a few second places in the next 2 years. Remco, Hindley, pelizzari, Rogla, Lipo... Surely one of them can do it...

 

[carolina]

He will skip worlds, but do the european championships, both the TT and road race.

 

[carolina]

João Almeida: «Saí da Vuelta mais confiante que poderei ganhar uma grande Volta»

Em grande entrevista a ABOLA, o melhor corredor português da atualidade faz a retrospetiva dos momentos mais importantes que lhe valeram a brilhante segunda posição da Vuelta e ainda lança um olhar sobre o seu futuro próximo

www.abola.pt

TLDR:
- was 2 kilos heavier then usual, because of the recovery from the Tour injuries
- Vingegaard was stronger, there was nothing he could've change that would make him win
- sick during the last week
- the interviewer tried really hard to make him say bad things about his teammates/Ayuso, but couldn't get anything negative out of him lol
- would like to do the Giro next year