EXCLUSIVE | UAE rider explains Tour de Suisse clash between João Almeida and Jan Christen

In pro cycling, it is not often that internal feuds are talked in public. But there are certain exceptions, and UAE Team Emirates - XRG is often at the center of them, due to the sheer amount of quality riders and leaders. One of the team's riders has shared with CyclingUpToDate their point of view on João Almeida and Jan Christen's clash on the opening day of the Tour de Suisse that almost cost the team the victory in the race.

UAE has lots of egos to manage, and this is not always possible in the best terms. Take Juan Ayuso as a prime example, whom the team mutually agreed to end the contract this past summer so as to let the Spanish rider leave.

He was involved in an internal clash at the 2024 Tour de France, where on stage 4 to Valloire, he looked to be hiding himself in the back of the GC group whilst João Almeida and Adam Yates prepared an attack for Tadej Pogacar. But this is not an isolated case. Often these don't make it to the media, and are resolved internally. But sometimes, they slip through the cracks.

And what a large crack it was on the opening stage of the Tour de Suisse. The team started with the main favourite of the race, João Almeida, but right in the first day he lost over 3 minutes to stage winner Romain Grégoire, and almost three to riders such as Kévin Vauquelin (who held the yellow jersey until the final day, where Almeida finally manage to overtake him) and Julian Alaphilippe. This was because of the rainy weather and a chaotic start to the race. UAE had Felix Grossschartner in the front group of over 20 riders, but it wasn't a priority for the team.

What happened behind had everything working in its favour to remain private. That is because the broadcast on the day was glitchy due to the bad weather, and there was barely any footage of the peloton. Romain Grégoire attacked from the breakaway, won the stage, and was at the front of affairs on the day. Over 3 minutes after, the GC group arrived with Almeida, Jan Christen and about 15 other riders. But what the TV footage did not show was an internal clash between the UAE riders, Christen being the reason why.

João Almeida pushed the pace up the final 3-kilometer that ended 15 kilometers away from the finish. No big differences were made. Jan Christen then himself attacked in the arrival to Küssnacht. Christen, a Swiss rider, looked to have a leading position in the lineup, and did not want to sacrifice his chances for a good result in the race. Something that, despite his choice on stage 1, did not ultimately happen.

In words to TV2 on that day, teammate Mikkel Bjerg let out a pretty harsh statement on his teammate: "I was very surprised that he attacked. It’s good to see he’s got good legs. It’s a shame he still doesn’t understand how to help the rest of the team, but that’s how it is.”  

Whilst the issue may have been eventually resolved in private, this display of public criticism was very unusual and a clear signal that things were far from good on the UAE bus on that day.

This was made even more surprising taking into consideration that six months earlier, Almeida literally 'gifted' Christen a victory. At the Volta ao Algarve, stage 2 into the Alto da Fóia proved to be quite tactic. Christen was part of a late attacking group at the base of the final climb, whilst Almeida stayed with the likes of Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic. As luck would have it for UAE, the two proved to be the strongest in both respective groups.

Christen attacked to victory and behind, Almeida left behind Vingegaard in surprising fashion, catching up with Christen, but not overtaking him in sight of the line. In his 'home' race, it was a win that would've been very prestigious for Almeida, and the first of his season.

Hence with Almeida as the man to beat in Suisse and Christen not entering the race as a clear favourite, lacking the record on the long climbs that the Portuguese has, the choice to not help his teammate was seen as very odd, and many did not understand it. "If it was me I also would've returned the favour as it's obvious," an anonymous rider at UAE Team Emirates - XRG shared with CyclingUpToDate. 

He has shared insight into why Christen did not decide on pushing for Almeida, in a day that could've sealed the faith for the team's GC hopes. "From what I know, Jan wanted to start the Tour de Suisse as a leader". The 21-year old ultimately abandoned the race on stage 6, and did not play a key role in Almeida's hunt for the yellow jersey which in the end proved successful.

What he tells is also that Almeida asked Christen to work on that day, and that there was a refusal in the treacherous terrain. "Then with the rain and all it was only João and Jan. João told Jan to push and Jan said 'no I won't'. So João attacked, angry".

Christen has notably been given several leadership roles throughout the 2025 season, including the Clásica San Sebastián where he and Isaac del Toro had a tactical blunder on the final climb, failing to distance and then getting dropped by Giulio Ciccone. He was also fourth at the Tour de Pologne and had several other top results earlier in the year.

In 2026, both riders will be teaming up at the Giro d'Italia, with Almeida being a clear favourite for the pink jersey, and with a group of domestiques that features Christen, Adam Yates, Jay Vine, António Morgado, Florian Vermeersch and Igor Arrieta.