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UAE-Team Emirates thread

Page 22 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Almeida is bored doing the Giro - G's odds of winning the Giro just went down ...
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...ing-to-the-giro-ditalia-is-getting-repetitive
João Almeida wants new challenges for 2024, with the Portuguese cyclist admitting that, in addition to the Tour de France, he would like to do "other types of races", such as the Critérium du Dauphiné or the Ardennes Classics. The arider from A-Dos-Francos spoke openly about his future.

"The calendar hasn't been discussed yet, but I'd like to do the Tour de France, because I've raced the Giro many times and it's getting a bit repetitive. I'd also like to do the Dauphiné or the Tour de Suisse and other races. Maybe the Ardennes Classics [...]. I think it's also important as a racer," he said in an interview published in the newsletter of the Portuguese Cycling Federation.
I'm giggling as I'm reminded of how Almeida once said he quit swimming as a kid as it was the same thing over and over. Novelty seeking lol. He should try to ride without his clock once too as it's the same again and again ;) :joycat:
 
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Oh Lord. Pogacar must win the Tour next year specially with this team UAE will bring to the Tour.
Pogacar
Ayuso
Almeida
Yates
Majka
These 5 in the mountains will be insane!
I wonder for how much longer having Pogacar, Almeida and Ayuso in one team will be sustainable. I will be surprised if we don't get a repeat of Jumbo-Roglic situation at UAE in the next few years.
 
Pog going Giro.

Triple threat Yates, Ayuso and Almeida at the Tour?

Pogačar already confirmed in a CN interview that his main goal for next year will be the Tour though he doesn't rule out riding the Giro as well.

It would be interesting to see him with Almeida and Ayuso in the Tour, I think it could either backfire due to a unwillingness in working for Pogačar or be a real game changing move, especially jf Ayuso steps up.

With Pogačar, Almeida and Ayuso all wanting to ride the Tour, I think its becoming very likely that Adam Yates will do the Giro.
 
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Quite possible going from history. Too many chiefs in one team never lasts long. My money's on Almeida moving to another team.

On one hand, I think an Almeida and/or Ayuso transfer might happen, especially if the younger GC talents in the team step up this season or next.

On the other hand, I would say that right now Pogačar is clearly the head chef among the UAE cooks. If his 2024 pre-Tour season isn't a complete diaster, I don't expect any JV Vuelta issues this year.

Also, Pogačar doesn't seem to have any issues with riding for other team members (McNulty comes to mind) or the team car assessing who feels best during the race itself. Of course this isn't fully comparable to the JV Vuelta. But Pogačar started saying in interviews years ago (this one below from 2023) that he knows you cannot be on top forever and you need to accept that.

In another recent interview, (was it this week on cyclingnews?) he said he knows he cannot keep improving forever.


“I got this opportunity to be one of the best cyclists in the world. Even if it’s just for one year, and now it’s already the third, fourth, year that I’m really doing good. If it happens that my shape will go down in two years, I will not mind. I understand that you cannot be the best anymore and you need to accept that.

“I already have this in my mind and I will be ready when it comes to that. So I will just enjoy racing now, and when I’m not that good anymore I will also enjoy racing or something else.”
 
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Almeida would have a good chance too with the TTs.
I can understand sending Almeida to the Tour after doing Giro-Vuelta twice in a row.

Ayuso and maybe Adam Yates to the Giro (with the later also doing the Tour and taking It easy on all non-mountain stages).

Bold prediction: If Ayuso or Almeida win a GT the Others one leaves the Team because Lack of opportunities to Ride for himself in a GT.

They'll be working for del Toro in about 2 years anyway😉
 
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Oh Lord. Pogacar must win the Tour next year specially with this team UAE will bring to the Tour.
Pogacar
Ayuso
Almeida
Yates
Majka
These 5 in the mountains will be insane!
If pogacar individually don't improve and not be better than Vingegaard, it doesn't matter if he takes that team to the Tour, he will not win.

Also don't forget that Jumbo still have a powerfull team for the Tour.
 
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Tactically they will have to try and do something different. Just try and cause havoc. Send people up the road. Make JV work.

Vingegaard will make one or two decisive attacks during the race, if Pog cant follow or have taken enough time on Vingegaard before that... he will lose.

JV only miscalculated on one stage last Tour, but you know other reasons may explain that as well. The sudden change from one day to the other in performance.

Anyway, Vinge just stayed within a few seconds from Pog after that. UAE controlling the last climb. For very little gain each time.

Then Vinge dropped the hammer in the ITT and race was over on the next day. Job done.

Vinge will have a strong team again with the likes of Kuss, Van Aert, Laporte, Van Baarle, Kelderman, Valter, Jorgenson, Tratnik and so on. Take your picks from that.

Why not go with Pog, Ayuso, Almeida, Yates, Majka, Bjerg, McNulty, Politt, Wellens, Hirschi, Grosschartner, Soler, Laengen and so on. Take your picks from that.

They got nothing to lose.
 
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Ayuso says he's off to the Tour, but how the heck will that work out? Do the Yates role from last year, and Yates does the Giro?
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...-juan-ayuso-planning-big-career-first-in-2024
“I just got back from Dubai with the team. The idea is to make my debut in the Tour next year and see how it goes,” the UAE Team Emirates rider told EFE in a pre-Madrid Critérium interview. "Pogacar is currently number one and it is normal that he goes to the Tour as the leader."
 
Almeida as a domestique screams Desaster to me. Then again, this year Soler did a great job for Pogacar...

The 2023 Vuelta didn't convince me that the Almeida and Ayuso duo is more than the sum of their parts when it comes to GC. I know they were sick and not at their best, so hopefully I'm wrong.

But I'm also not sure either of them would be both a) as helpful to Pogačar and b) as much of a GC challenger, as Adam Yates proved himself to be this year.
 
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