João Almeida - Bota Lume

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I guess I'm late, but PCS has removed Almeida from the Vuelta startlist. He's racing Poland and Bretagne Classic instead (and, afterwards, Lombardia). Any Portuguese cycling fans know why?

He was set to race the Vuelta for GC. In fact, it was one of the reasons given why Evenepoel wasn't selected.

 

[southwards]

I guess I'm late, but PCS has removed Almeida from the Vuelta startlist. He's racing Poland and Bretagne Classic instead (and, afterwards, Lombardia). Any Portuguese cycling fans know why?

He was set to race the Vuelta for GC. In fact, it was one of the reasons given why Evenepoel wasn't selected.

Found this article (not from a Portuguese major outlet, but from his home region) where he says he would do either the Olympics or the Vuelta:

O Dilema de João Almeida: Os Jogos ou a Volta à Espanha

Mesmo que não funcione em 2020, João Almeida (Deceuninck-Quick Step) Funcionou bem no Dia 104 tour na italia (sexto geral). Agora, o português de 22 anos

www.leiriaeconomica.com

Sad that he threw away a podium chance at the Vuelta to be out of form at the Olympics in two races that definitely didn't suit him.

 

[Red Rick]

Yes and no. He'll probably only get one half decent shot at the Olympics in his career, so it's understandable. The problem is you really needed the Tour to compete in the road race. In fact he was one of the best riders in the road race who didn't do the Tour. And he wasn't really a contender in the ITT anyway.

I disagree the road race didn't suit him. It did. He just came into it without optimal prep + the Olympics tends to have a high lottery element.

 

[carolina]

I guess I'm late, but PCS has removed Almeida from the Vuelta startlist. He's racing Poland and Bretagne Classic instead (and, afterwards, Lombardia). Any Portuguese cycling fans know why?

He was set to race the Vuelta for GC. In fact, it was one of the reasons given why Evenepoel wasn't selected.

I never saw anything saying he was doing the Vuelta. It was all speculation from cycling fans.
With the Giro in his legs I doubt he would do much in terms of GC.

 

[groogster]

Since day one both Almeida and Correia said that the goal after the Giro was To be in the olympics. if DQ called him for riding in La Vuelta would be over the top for a young rider that is still growing. Two GT in a single season for such a young rider IMO would do more harm then good. Be in the Olympics is the achievment of a lifetime for any athlete and Almeida has many seasons left to do La vuelta

 

[trevim]

My opinion is that Almeida is better off without Vuelta, just decrease the level a bit and get some wins. Otherwise he’ll become another Kelderman: great rider, zero killer instinct

 

[Pistolas]

My opinion is that Almeida is better off without Vuelta, just decrease the level a bit and get some wins. Otherwise he’ll become another Kelderman: great rider, zero killer instinct

Just beated one of the riders with the most killer instint. He doesnt lack killer instinct just experience. Also today attacked earlier than he should.

 

[Red Rick]

Killer instinct is largely a buzz word for overrated guys who don't win that much anyway

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Killer instinct is largely a buzz word for overrated guys who don't win that much anyway

Maybe, but that's not really true for Ulissi. though not all his wins are that prestigious.

 

[trevim]

Killer instinct is largely a buzz word for overrated guys who don't win that much anyway

I kind of disagree, it’s important to know how to finish off a race unless you are Pogacar and just drop people casually. Today is a good example, Almeida found a way to win against a rider that is probably faster than him all things equal.

anyway, I’m just glad it’s working out for him!

 

[Red Rick]

Maybe, but that's not really true for Ulissi. though not all his wins are that prestigious.

I just think Ulissi likes to be a bigger fish in a relatively small pond.

 

[southwards]

Another win. This may not be a gigantic field, but he's showing himself a great puncheur. This win also much more well timed.

 

[Parrulo]

This is like a 3rd tier field, but he is showing he is levels above everyone else.

This will be good for his confidence and for his status in the peloton.

With a TT still to go I don't see how he could lose the race

 

[Froome]

This is like a 3rd tier field, but he is showing he is levels above everyone else.

This will be good for his confidence and for his status in the peloton.

With a TT still to go I don't see how he could lose the race

A win is always a win, even if the field is not great.
Remco won most of his races in WT against weak fields and almost nobody talked of that "weak field", they just talked that he is the next "eddy merckx".
He already proved is potential. With just 23 years, he's got two top tens in a grand tour, and emirates didn't give a contract of 2/3 millions per year for no reason.
Just pogacar is above joao almeida in terms of young riders in this moment.

 

[BlueRoads]

A win is always a win, even if the field is not great.
Remco won most of his races in WT against weak fields and almost nobody talked of that "weak field", they just talked that he is the next "eddy merckx".
He already proved is potential. With just 23 years, he's got two top tens in a grand tour, and emirates didn't give a contract of 2/3 millions per year for no reason.
Just pogacar is above joao almeida in terms of young riders in this moment.

Bernal. Vingegaard. Maybe even Evenepoel when he's fit. Maybe even Padun...

Almeida is amazing. But no need to forget about the others.

 

[Froome]

Bernal. Vingegaard. Maybe even Evenepoel when he's fit. Maybe even Padun...

Almeida is amazing. But no need to forget about the others.

All of them except remco have more than 23 years, that's what i tried to say, i didn't expressed well, my bad. And of course, they are all talented riders.
If we talk about all young riders, i cannot deny thay bernal is better than joao almeida, he's got 2 grand tours.

 

[groogster]

All of them except remco have more than 23 years, that's what i tried to say, i didn't expressed well, my bad. And of course, they are all talented riders.
If we talk about all young riders, i cannot deny thay bernal is better than joao almeida, he's got 2 grand tours.

Almeida is probably already amongst the top 10 GC riders in the World Tour, but we have to wait and see if he continues to develop into the next season asmuch as it seems he did from the last season to this one.

We must not forget that there's a lot of young guns showing themselves in the last couple of years and the trending in Pro cycling shoulf continue in the next few seasons.

Still i'm a huge fan of Almeida and he probably will in the future win a GT. Need to wait and see what are the plans that UAE has for him as a leader, as it seems obvious that he will be in Pogacar shadow at least in the next season.

 

[SafeBet]

This is like a 3rd tier field, but he is showing he is levels above everyone else.

I don't consider Ulissi and Kwiatkowski a 3rd tier field on such a route. They've been winning similar stages since forever.
And Mohoric has proven he can win at the highest level on rolling terrain.

I'm very impressed.

 

[johnymax]

A win is always a win, even if the field is not great.
Remco won most of his races in WT against weak fields and almost nobody talked of that "weak field", they just talked that he is the next "eddy merckx".
He already proved is potential. With just 23 years, he's got two top tens in a grand tour, and emirates didn't give a contract of 2/3 millions per year for no reason.
Just pogacar is above joao almeida in terms of young riders in this moment.

Not to take anything away from Almeida's win but there was actualy a lot of talk from objective cycling fans about how Remco's wins have come mostly in weakish fields.

 

[groogster]

Not to take anything away from Almeida's win but there was actualy a lot of talk from objective cycling fans about how Remco's wins have come mostly in weakish fields.

true but let’s not forget that both, Remco and Almeida are youngsters and only in theirs 2nd pro year. For Christ sake, 10 years ago with their ages they would be competing in the under23 races. There’s a lot to improve in both of them in the next few years, we didn’t see yet the maximum potential of both.

 

[Froome]

true but let’s not forget that both, Remco and Almeida are youngsters and only in theirs 2nd pro year. For Christ sake, 10 years ago with their ages they would be competing in the under23 races. There’s a lot to improve in both of them in the next few years, we didn’t see yet the maximum potential of both.

I think this new young riders will reach their peak sooner than the riders of the past. I don't think this new riders will improve until 28 years, the age when the past riders reached their peak.
Today's riders start to develop more soon, so i believe they will reach their peak at around 25 years.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

true but let’s not forget that both, Remco and Almeida are youngsters and only in theirs 2nd pro year. For Christ sake, 10 years ago with their ages they would be competing in the under23 races. There’s a lot to improve in both of them in the next few years, we didn’t see yet the maximum potential of both.

Almeida is technically in his fourth pro season, though he mostly raced U23 races in the first one, and Remco is definitely in his third, but I do agree with the rest of your post.

 

[groogster]

I think this new young riders will reach their peak sooner than the riders of the past. I don't think this new riders will improve until 28 years, the age when the past riders reached their peak.
Today's riders start to develop more soon, so i believe they will reach their peak at around 25 years.

also true… just common sense, if you start to develop earlier you will also reach peak sooner

 

[groogster]

Almeida is technically in his fourth pro season, though he mostly raced U23 races in the first one, and Remco is definitely in his third, but I do agree with the rest of your post.

just a bad choice of words, they are both in theirs 2nd world tour seasons

 

[Samu Cuenca]

just a bad choice of words, they are both in theirs 2nd world tour seasons

Remco is still in his third though.