João Almeida - Bota Lume

[YavorD]

This is such a strange and nonsensical perspective to take in the '3rd best GT rider' discussion. I don't think anybody who is arguing Lipowitz' case puts any emphasis on who he beat. That is quite irrelevant. The thing worth looking at is how relatively close he was to the aliens in terms of climbing. There's clearly a case to be made for having him in this discussion. There is of course the sample size issue, but if we had more data points, this wouldn't be such a discussion in the first place.

I don't think he was that "relatively close". He lost 4.30 in the only 2 stages they went 100%.
Afterwards, not being able to drop each other, they naturally want slower. Had one of them been able to drop the other, thus go 100%, the gap would've probably been 15 minutes (and they would have won maybe 3 more stages, but that's irrelevant). And I don't think 15 minutes is close, or even "relatively close".

Obviously it doesn't come to say that Lipowitz was weak, just that the gap is bigger than what the numbers say. Could someone else get between the aliens and Lipo, obviously I don't know, but I'm inclined to believe so.

 

[Cycling111]

Algarve, Paris-Nice, Catalunya, Giro, Burgos, Vuelta.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Algarve, Paris-Nice, Catalunya, Giro, Burgos, Vuelta.

Remco, Lipowitz, Almeida all Catalunya, hopefully Jonas as well

 

[KZD]

Happy that Almeida rides Giro-Vuelta, hopefully he will become a GT winner in 2026.

 

[SHAD0W93]

If Vingegaard doesn’t go to the Giro, Almeida should be the top favorite and only sickness is his opponent.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

If Vingegaard doesn’t go to the Giro, Almeida should be the top favorite and only sickness is his opponent.

Depending on what Jonas chooses, Almeida will probably be a #1 favourite in one GT

 

[fenns]

being given every chance to win a GT in 2026

 

[Berniece]

Would be nice to see him win the Giro

 

[AmRacer]

Would be nice to see him win the Giro

UAE winning all three GT's?

 

[Berniece]

UAE winning all three GT's?

I can see that happening. If they win the Giro odds would be in their favour. Although I do think it’s difficult against a fresh Vingegaard at 100%

 

[YavorD]

UAE winning all three GT's?

And all 5 monuments 😅?


The odds of Pogacar winning the missing 2 are probably as big as Almeida beating Vingegaard though.

 

[AmRacer]

And all 5 monuments 😅?


The odds of Pogacar winning the missing 2 are probably as big as Almeida beating Vingegaard though.

Pogi wining all 5 monuments, Tour, Vuelta, WC and EC......

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Pogi wining all 5 monuments, Tour, Vuelta, WC and EC......

Stop it, I can only get so hard

 

[YavorD]

Pogi wining all 5 monuments, Tour, Vuelta, WC and EC......

Romandie and Suisse as well.
Almeida wins PN and Catalunya, Del Toro wins TA, Itzulia and Dauphine (can't be bothered to write the new name)

 

[noob]

At least he got something for his one year extension!

 

[Pozzovivo]

"Almeida and the motley crew" going to Paris Nice? I hope to see Mcnulty, Herregodts and some other strong ITT riders added to this list. Otherwise he has no chance against Ayuso and JV.

Soler and Sivakov are not the ideal for this race. Surprisingly poor time trialists both of them. Also not great a position and punch. Looking grim.

 

[Berniece]

"Almeida and the motley crew" going to Paris Nice? I hope to see Mcnulty, Herregodts and some other strong ITT riders added to this list. Otherwise he has no chance against Ayuso and JV.

Soler and Sivakov are not the ideal for this race. Surprisingly poor time trialists both of them. Also not great a position and punch. Looking grim.

Looking at the profile, I doubt he has a big chance anyway.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Looking at the profile, I doubt he has a big chance anyway.

Agree. But UAE should be one of the teams that could take advantage of the TTT with their roster. Really feels like they are not prioritizing Almeida.

 

[Cycling111]

"Almeida and the motley crew" going to Paris Nice? I hope to see Mcnulty, Herregodts and some other strong ITT riders added to this list. Otherwise he has no chance against Ayuso and JV.

Soler and Sivakov are not the ideal for this race. Surprisingly poor time trialists both of them. Also not great a position and punch. Looking grim.

With Narvaez and Wellens injured, there will be changes to the Classics team, so I suppose it will affect the team planned for other races.

Sivakov's shape this early season is terrible. He started better last year in Andalusia. I don't know if he's been ill.
Soler won Paris-Nice when he was in Movistar. So it shouldn't be a bad race for him

In any case, it's going to be very difficult for Almeida to win this year because he's going to have better rivals than last year in the one-week races.

 

[Pozzovivo]

I understand that Almeida is up against it. I'm more talking about giving him, perhaps the number two or number three in hierarchy on UAE, a team that maximizes his chances of winning. I think he's deserves that after last year.

You're right that Soler won the race once, his other results are 24th, 50th, and DNF, but I should have mentioned that perhaps. I more doubt his qualities as a support rider for Almeida in this race, this year. They share many of the same weaknesses.