Just to show you how his perfomance is very important for cycling in PORTUGAL, if he today finish 4th or even keep the 5th position will be just the second best perfomance of a portuguese rider in a GT
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Just to show you how his perfomance is very important for cycling in PORTUGAL, if he today finish 4th or even keep the 5th position will be just the second best perfomance of a portuguese rider in a GT
Hopefully it is just the age when you show this consistency and ITT ability and extremly good climbing overall surely a future GT winner. Atleast a contender for sure, he was very respectable in the mountains, the Stelvio was just too much. His recovery is on another level most riders would of not just lost the Giro on the Stelvio they would of lost 20 plus minutes considering his age? Incredible future i hope. My new FAV along with Bernal and Mas.Yes, first jersey for a portuguese and the best ever result in the Giro. The previous best result was José Azevedo's 5th place in 2001.
Excelent time-trial today. Almeida seems to have a great recovery, just needs to work on the high mountains.
Can't wait for next year.
Yes, his recovery has been a pleasant surprise. I can see him challenge for the Vuelta already next year.
Yes, his recovery has been a pleasant surprise. I can see him challenge for the Vuelta already next year.
Yes, his recovery has been a pleasant surprise. I can see him challenge for the Vuelta already next year.
Would have to be with a lot of TT kms and nothing steep or high altitude in the mountains. Look at the time he lost on Piancavallo, Stelvio, Sestriere and then imagine if any riders like Pogacar, Roglic, Carapaz, Bernal... were here
Are you the guy who's giving the nicknames with animals in the comment section of CN articles?Amazing Giro for the new Portuguese Cycling IDOL João "The Panther" Almeida!!!
4th Place GC
11 top 10 stages (2x2nd + 2x3rd + 3x4th)
15 days with the maglia rosa
Almeida's mother was on the phone with Eurosport Portugal during some of the stages and she said that João was her Pink Panther.
Well, it is still possible for a guy his age -while old- to still improve on certain aspects. We've seen McNulty take a big step since last year, why wouldn't Almeida be able to do the same? Both are the same age. I also don't think he'll ever be an elite climber, but he's a fighter with a big engine. Also don't forget he wasted a lot of energy last year (needlessly) defending his jersey. Had he never worn pink, he might actually have come a lot closer to winning the Giro in the final ITT.@BlueRoads
Why is that? This Giro has more difficult climbs that he dislikes and less ITT that benefits him. I think a top-10 would be great for him.
Well, it is still possible for a guy his age -while old- to still improve on certain aspects. We've seen McNulty take a big step since last year, why wouldn't Almeida be able to do the same? Both are the same age. I also don't think he'll ever be an elite climber, but he's a fighter with a big engine. Also don't forget he wasted a lot of energy last year (needlessly) defending his jersey. Had he never worn pink, he might actually have come a lot closer to winning the Giro in the final ITT.
@BlueRoads
Why is that? This Giro has more difficult climbs that he dislikes and less ITT that benefits him. I think a top-10 would be great for him.
But we've already seen him this year and I don't see much sign that his climbing ability has taken a big step forward.
Then we can say Bernal is nowhere close to his former level, Buchmann has no chance, Etc. I'm not claiming he'll be beter, but it's still possible. I'll wait for week 3, that's when it counts.But we've already seen him this year and I don't see much sign that his climbing ability has taken a big step forward.
Indeed, i already mentioned that in a previous post, but many people seem to forget or dismiss it. He wore and defended the jersey for two weeks, on and off the bike, it drains energy.João also said he didn't get enough rest between stages last year, because he was in the maglia rosa. More interviews, etc after every stage.
I think he will be better, but the stronger competition makes it unlikely that he will finish on the podium.