João Almeida - Bota Lume

[noob]

He doesn't even know what's wrong with him! He said in the pre stage 7 interview that he was feeling bad since stage 1 and that he will do blood analysis with the medical team to find out what's the problem. Starting to see that he may have some serious condition, It wasn't normal to be dropped like that, in normal conditions he would be at least with Lipowitz and Lenny in the last 2 stages.

View: https://youtu.be/qY8Mv6axjhM?si=wLk24IKYn_h7pPkn

At least the video is funny. He just stands there casually smiling while talking about feeling like crap.

 

[CyclistAbi]

'I need to rest and see what's wrong with me' – João Almeida off for medical tests after Volta a Catalunya struggles

Portuguese rider finished the Spanish stage race in 38th place

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Berniece]

He can't climb and is washed /s

 

[AmRacer]

He can't climb and is washed /s

He could climb years ago so he has a high ceiling

 

[jotafap]

He can't climb and is washed /s

Ik you’re joking, but there’s a big difference between having 1 single off race (in the last idk how many races) and failing pretty much consistently.

Anyway, I hope the team figures out what’s wrong with him asap, although I’m positive it’ll all be solved by the time Giro starts.

 

[Mayomaniac]

He can't climb and is washed /s

Bunda Lume?

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

😯

https://twitter.com/x/status/2048554434347647417

View: https://x.com/i/status/2048554434347647417

 

[jotafap]

Ahhh, that's sad... Pretty sure he was the only rider who could make the Giro somewhat "interesting" for the maglia rosa...

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

Ahhh, that's sad... Pretty sure he was the only rider who could make the Giro somewhat "interesting" for the maglia rosa...

Yes. It was impossible for Almeida to win the Giro against Vingegaard, but he guaranteed some exciting stages.

 

[pelotonIQ]

Almeida maybe out and Toro injured...... UAE can do the funniest thing right now, I'm sure the thought have crossed the DS mind

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

Almeida maybe out and Toro injured...... UAE can do the funniest thing right now, I'm sure the thought have crossed the DS mind

Jay Vine is the one who has the level to reach the podium in this Giro and even win this year's Vuelta, given the weak field expected.

But he lose time on the flat stages to avoid crashing.
If it weren't for that problem, he's no worse than Hindley or Hesjedal were in the years they won the Giro, or other riders who won the Vuelta.

He's much better than them in ITT, and in the mountains, there are days when he climbs as well as Almeida and better than Hindley, Hesjedal...

 

[Red Rick]

The genius team behind the greatest of all time made a rider who was very clearly unwell finish Catalunya and now he's *** for the forseeable future.

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

The genius team behind the greatest of all time made a rider who was very clearly unwell finish Catalunya and now he's *** for the forseeable future.

He went to Catalunya because his performance was good in Algarve.

I had a virus, and they only detected it after it had been incubating for a long time. Initially you feel that something is going wrong, you feel unwell but it seems like simple fatigue, and it's undetectable in medical test until the symptoms become chronic.
From what I'm reading, everything points in that direction.

I'm reminded of Kooij.
These people have weak immune systems due to the low weight they maintain for competition; they are a breeding ground for these viruses.

 

[Netserk]

He went to Catalunya because his performance was good in Algarve.

I had a virus, and they only detected it after it had been incubating for a long time. Initially you feel that something is going wrong, you feel unwell but it seems like simple fatigue, and it's undetectable in medical test until the symptoms become chronic.
From what I'm reading, everything points in that direction.

I'm reminded of Kooij.
These people have weak immune systems due to the low weight they maintain for competition; they are a breeding ground for these viruses.

he skipped paris nice citing illness

so he already knew that he probably shouldnt even have started catalunya -- although that would maybe have run contrary to his comments about vingegaard in algarve

 

[Netserk]

Unfortunately I won’t be at the start of the Giro D’Italia next month as planned. Sickness in the past months has affected my preparations too much and has meant I just won’t quite be ready in time which is a shame as it’s a race I love so much.
After talking it through with the team we decided it was best to take a rest period and switch focus to new goals later in the season.
We haven’t set out those new goals yet but that will be done calmly in the next few weeks… For now it’s time to first rest-up a bit and build things back up slowly.
Best of luck to the guys for the Giro, will be cheering from home 🫡

J O Ã O A L M E I D A on Instagram: "Unfortunately I won’t be at the start of the Giro D’Italia next month as planned. Sickness in the past months has affected my preparations too much and has meant I just won’t quite be ready in time which is a sha

3,605 likes, 93 comments - joao.almeida.cyclist on April 27, 2026: "Unfortunately I won’t be at the start of the Giro D’Italia next month as planned. Sickness in the past months has affected my preparations too much and has meant I just won’t quite be ready in time which is a shame as it’s a...

www.instagram.com

 

[Berniece]

Unfortunately I won’t be at the start of the Giro D’Italia next month as planned. Sickness in the past months has affected my preparations too much and has meant I just won’t quite be ready in time which is a shame as it’s a race I love so much.
After talking it through with the team we decided it was best to take a rest period and switch focus to new goals later in the season.
We haven’t set out those new goals yet but that will be done calmly in the next few weeks… For now it’s time to first rest-up a bit and build things back up slowly.
Best of luck to the guys for the Giro, will be cheering from home 🫡

J O Ã O A L M E I D A on Instagram: "Unfortunately I won’t be at the start of the Giro D’Italia next month as planned. Sickness in the past months has affected my preparations too much and has meant I just won’t quite be ready in time which is a sha

3,605 likes, 93 comments - joao.almeida.cyclist on April 27, 2026: "Unfortunately I won’t be at the start of the Giro D’Italia next month as planned. Sickness in the past months has affected my preparations too much and has meant I just won’t quite be ready in time which is a shame as it’s a...

www.instagram.com

Why not specify those goals? TDF or Vuelta

 

[Brullnux]

Why not specify those goals? TDF or Vuelta

"We haven’t set out those new goals yet"

 

[Berniece]

"We haven’t set out those new goals yet"

My bad, didn't read the 2nd paragraph

 

[CyclistAbi]

Last season was superb but this season and so far was really hard on him.

 

[fenns]

sounds like some sort of virus - shame for him

 

[noob]

Argh I just saw it on fb. I've worried for years he'd get post covid, post mono or post anything as he's been riding around with infections since forever and couldn't even mask properly. There's a real risk that he's finished by this, just like Masnada was. I really hope not 😓

 

[Netserk]

depending on how he recovers , i think he can replace adam for the tour team