“I was expecting to lose a bit, but not that much” – Joao Almeida loses significant time to Juan Ayuso in Algarve TT

Joao Almeida admitted he expected to concede time on Stage 3 of the Volta ao Algarve, but not on the scale that ultimately reshaped the general classification in Vilamoura.

The Portuguese rider finished the 19.5-kilometre individual time trial in 22:36.428, over 40 seconds slower than stage winner Filippo Ganna and more than half a minute behind race leader Juan Ayuso. Having started the day just seven seconds off yellow, Almeida now sits 44 seconds down overall.

“It was a really nice time trial,” Almeida said afterwards in conversation with Cycling Pro Net. “I did my best, and I think I did pretty well, but the others were just faster.”

Almeida had anticipated losing ground on a flat course that favoured pure specialists, but the final margin exceeded his expectations. “I was expecting to lose a bit, but not that much,” he admitted. “Still, congratulations to him. I think he’s in really good shape.”

Ayuso finished second on the stage, just 5.686 seconds behind Ganna, and in doing so took seven seconds out of Paul Seixas to move clear at the top of the standings. Almeida, by contrast, was unable to match that level and slipped further behind both rivals.

Despite the outcome, Almeida did not point to the course as a limiting factor. “I think it was pretty good. It was a really nice time trial. The others were just faster.”

The gaps at the top of the classification have now widened. After three stages, Ayuso leads the race on 8:32:43, with Seixas seven seconds back and Almeida third at +0:44. Kévin Vauquelin and Thymen Arensman both moved into closer contention for the podium following strong rides against the clock.

For Almeida, the task is now clear. “Not much, really,” he said when asked about his plan to recover time. “Just do my best. Maybe try to attack on the last day, and that’s it.”

With a demanding final stage still to come, the overall victory is not yet settled. But after a decisive afternoon against the clock, Almeida’s margin for error has narrowed considerably, and any bid to overturn the deficit will require aggression rather than calculation.