Giro d’Italia 2026 | João Almeida fine-tunes form in Valencia ahead of Grand Tour test

João Almeida is stepping up his preparation ahead of the first Grand Tour of the season, the Giro d'Italia, with the Portuguese rider currently based in Valencia as he looks to sharpen both his physical condition and technical execution in the coming weeks.

A key part of that work has been focused time trial sessions at the Luis Puig Velodrome, a facility regularly used by UAE Team Emirates - XRG for precision-based training blocks.

The 27-year-old, from A-dos-Francos in Caldas da Rainha, is following a programme overseen by Spanish coach Javi Sola, who also works with reigning world champion Tadej Pogacar. The objective is clear: arrive at the Giro d’Italia in peak condition and ready to compete against some of the strongest names in the peloton.

Jonas Vingegaard is expected to be among his main rivals, with the Dane arriving as the reigning Vuelta a España champion from 2025. Felix Gall and Giulio Pellizzari are also among the riders aiming to play a significant role in the race.

The race gets underway on 8 May, with a 156-kilometre opening stage between Nessebar and Burgas in Bulgaria. For Almeida, it marks a return to a race where he has already proven his credentials, having finished third overall in 2023.

After his most recent outing at the Volta a Catalunya, Almeida acknowledged there is still work to be done. Speaking to Marca, he admitted he does not yet feel fully comfortable on the bike and believes he needs to improve his sensations in the coming weeks. Despite that, his focus remains firmly on daily progress as he builds towards the Giro.

Almeida’s early-season results have been somewhat uneven. He started strongly at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, finishing second overall and confirming a solid level from the outset. That consistency continued at the Volta ao Algarve, where he placed third overall and delivered steady performances on key stages such as Malhao and Foia.

However, his form dipped at the Volta a Catalunya, where he finished 38th overall. While there were still some respectable efforts in the mountains, he was unable to maintain the level shown earlier in the season, leaving him with mixed sensations as he now turns his full attention to the Giro d’Italia.