“I just don't have the legs I want right now” – Nielson Powless finding best form at Volta ao Algarve after pneumonia illness
Cycling
Neilson Powless has made an impressive start to his 2025
season, and he currently sits in the top-10 finish in the general
classification at the Volta ao Algarve. His result is even more impressive given
the level of competition, which included Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic, and
Joao Almeida.
Making his performance even more impressive is the fact that
Powless was battling pneumonia just over a month ago! Despite this setback, he has
managed to put himself in the mix against some of the world's best riders.
"It was good to find a move early on the stage, because
I wasn't going to beat Jonas or Primoz, so I was happy to get in front,"
Powless told Cyclingnews. "I didn't have the legs in the end. It
was pretty stop and go, the pitches were tough and the road was rough, so you
couldn't carry speed too easily. So in general, I can be happy, but
unfortunately, it was just not quite enough."
His winter preparation had gone well, and he felt he had
reached a new level going into 2024. "I worked really well in the winter
and felt I had got to a new level, so I was feeling super-good in January and
setting records on testing," Powless explained. "I really thought I
was going to open up the season with a bang."
However, that momentum was derailed when illness struck. "But
then I just started getting so sick, about halfway through January. It was
really like a week healthy and a week sick, a week healthy and a week sick. I
got a blood test and found I had pneumonia."
After a course of antibiotics, he was able to train for a
week before heading to the Algarve, though he still wasn't at 100%. "I
could still tell I was missing some depth, so I hope the Algarve will do that,
because I was feeling good, and I want to get back to how I felt then."
Reflecting on his racing instincts, Powless acknowledged
that he is still working his way back to his best form. "On Wednesday I
was just following my instincts. I mean, I am racing the way I want to be
racing, I just don't have the legs I want right now."
He remains optimistic but knows there is still work to do. "I'm
hoping they'll come, but my level at the end of the race yesterday was pretty
far below what I normally expect for myself, so that's a bit frustrating.
Considering how last month went, I was really satisfied with how I was able to
get back to the front of bike racing. But I still have a pretty good chunk of
ground to make up."
His main focus now is on building back his endurance and
race sharpness. "I think eventually my body will get used to pushing that
hard and going that intense at the end of a hard day. I think just having to up
it again, and more consistent training, a bit more than one week at a time of
training."
He understands it will take time to return to peak form. "So
that is going to be all I need, but it's going to take me a few weeks until I'm
back there."
Despite the struggles, Powless is encouraged by the progress
he has already made. "I feel like it's coming, and I feel like I'm getting
more consistent each day. I'm feeling good on the bike, it's just at the end of
the race I'm getting more fatigued than normal, so that just comes with a bit
more time away from illness."
Looking ahead, Powless has clear goals for the coming months.
"A top 10 here would be nice, and I'm hoping for a good GC in Paris-Nice.
Then my big focus is on the Classics. I just need to get some depth back by
then."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment