"I wasn't even that strong" - João Almeida surprised to take massive Itzulia Basque Country victory

João Almeida was the strongest climber on the 4th stage of the Itzulia Basque Country in dominant fashion with an attack on the Izua climb, which peaked around 11 kilometers from the finish line. From then on the Portuguese rider rode in isolation to win the stage 28 seconds ahead of his UAE Team Emirates - XRG teammate Isaac del Toro and Max Schachmann, who lost the Yellow Jersey to the Portuguese rider.

"I was very happy. The truth is that I wasn't feeling very well today. I didn't have the best legs. I gave everything I had and in the end I came first and I'm very happy. I have to thank the team, they've been perfect," he said in a post-race interview.

João Almeida confesses that he didn't really feel at his best today, and didn't hold back a laugh when asked if this was due to yesterday, which also saw the Portuguese on the attack but whose efforts were ultimately in vain when he made a mistake at the entrance to a traffic circle in the final kilometers.

As for today, the 26-year-old Portuguese told us how he planned things: "I imagined that there was going to be a very big fight for the breakaway. At the end, to get onto the last climb, I knew the fight was going to be crazy. I decided to start a little further back and climb at my own pace, and off I went."

In reality, João has more of a reputation for being a climber more suited to the long ascents we're used to seeing in the Grand Tours, so for some it may have been a little strange to see the Portuguese rider at this level on such a steep and explosive climb: "At the end I was fine, but I wasn't even super," he said. "I think everyone was a bit tired from yesterday and it seems to have been enough." Dropping main rival Florian Lipowitz, he went on to take a solo win that also puts him in the race lead.

As for what's left between now and the finish, the new race leader is trying to take some of the pressure off: "Tomorrow and the day after will be very, very tough! But today I'm going to enjoy this victory and then focus on the last few days"

Today João Almeida outclassed all the competition and now leads the Basque Race by 30 seconds over former leader Max Schachmann of Soudal - Quickstep and 38 seconds over Florian Lipowitz of Red Bull - BORA - Hansgrohe.