“I just don't have the legs I want right now” – Nielson Powless finding best form at Volta ao Algarve after pneumonia illness

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."