"I don't do this kind of race very often, but I want to start doing it more" - Joao Almeida ready to show one-day prowess at the Amstel Gold Race

With Tadej Pogacar resting up ahead of Liege-Bastogne-Liege, UAE Team Emirates looks to the likes of Juan Ayuso and Joao Almeida for this Sunday's Amstel Gold Race.

"I don't do this kind of race very often, but I want to start doing it more, and I'd like to win one one day," Almeida previews in conversation with the Portuguese Cycling Magazine, ahead of his Amstel Gold Race debut, with Fleche Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege coming up for the 25-year-old in the next few weeks also.

Although the more typical one-day specialists such as Mathieu van der Poel, Tom Pidcock and Ben Healy among others are arguably more likely winners, Almeida is quietly confident of being able to compete for victory. "I come here with optimism," the UAE Team Emirates man assesses. "The race will be controlled by Alpecin-Deceuninck, they have that responsibility after the season van der Poel has been having. There are no great secrets to stopping such strong cyclists. It's about anticipating the attack and trying to stay on the wheel."

"It's the typical Dutch and Belgian roads: up and down, left and right, with short, steep climbs. It's the typical race where you always have to be at the front," says Almeida after his recon. "We haven't discussed the strategy yet. But in general it's the same as all the teams: the race is going to be very tough and they're all going to play and try to do their best, and we have to be on top of things, following the moves, and then whoever has the legs goes ahead."