"Before I knew I was going to start in Portugal, my goal was just the Tour and the Olympic Games" - Vuelta a Espana becomes big priority for Portuguese hero João Almeida

João Almeida has followed a similar calendar throughout the past few seasons, but in 2024 he will make his Tour de France debut and ride the Olympic Games. This was his main set of goals for the season, but the Portuguese is also racing the Vuelta a Espana as it starts in his home country.

“We have the Olympic Games, then the Vuelta starting in Portugal," Almeida said in an interview with O Jogo. "It’s also quite special. We have to manage the calendar well. Personally, before I knew I was going to start in Portugal, my goal was just the Tour and the Olympic Games, obviously if I'm [called up], and, maybe, leaving the Vuelta as a plan B, if I felt good. But starting in Portugal… it rarely happens that a Grand Tour starts in our country, so I think it was very good to do the Vuelta."

The 25-year old will be part of a stupendous UAE Team Emirates lineup for the Tour de France, which also includes Tadej Pogacar, Adam Yates and Juan Ayuso. Among all this talent, it will not be easy for him to find freedom, despite having finished on the podium of the Giro d'Italia this year. However, if he's able to carry good form into Spain, he must definitely be one of the favourites for the podium, and enjoy co-leadership alongside Yates.

“No doubt João has a special motivation, he knows the time trial and defends himself well in the sport," Joxean Matxín argued. "It’s a beautiful race and we’re excited to do something important. The Vuelta 2024 is a great bet, with an initial time trial in Lisbon and another at the end. The day before there will be a mountain day, at Picón Blanco, which could change the race, with almost 5,000 meters of elevation difference."