"If I compare with last year, I think I'm much better" - Almeida stronger but further from Algarve win; Oscar Onley praises INEOS tactics and quality
Cycling
The final stage of the Volta ao Algarve delivered excitement and tested the GC contenders to the maximum. João Almeida and Oscar Onley weren't able to bring in the results they hoped for in the Alto do Malhão, but both of them have shown a very high level which is a great sign for the months to come.
"Yeah, today and the other days I maximized what I have. I felt pretty good in the race actually, so... Yeah, I think everything is on the right track," Almeida said in a post-race interview, not lamenting the lack of a stage win in his home country.
On the first ascent of the Alto do Malhão, 2.6 kilometers at 9%, the Portuguese tried to stir things up. "I was expecting a little bit of a higher pace from INEOS. And when I saw the pace was not high enough, I just went to the front and pulled by myself. Why not? I have nothing to lose, so... I think it was pretty good actually".
The move wasn't successful, but triggered other attacks, and the atritional race would favour him. However, on the final climb, he wasn't able to drop his main rivals. He finished third in the overall classification nevertheless and believes he is good in his current phase of the season.
"If I compare with last year, I think I'm much better, so I think that's a positive. Of course, these guys come from altitude and they look much, much better than me," he admits. "But yeah, I think I'm pretty good and I'll leave this race with confidence in my work and my shape. Paris-Nice is the next one, then Catalunya, and then the big one, the Giro".
Onley close to win on Malhão
On the final climb, Oscar Onley bet on his sprint to try and net his first win with INEOS Grenadiers. He seemed to do a perfect job, but the yellow jersey was right on his tail and had that extra little bit in the finishing straight to overtake him.
"Yeah, I knew the finish route is quite narrow. It can be quite hard to pass, so yeah, I just tried to open it up early. And I could feel Ayuso on my shoulder, on my hip, and yeah he was just stronger".
The Scottish climber could be happy with his performance, but also that of his teammates. "Overall, I'm really happy with the day, like, from the team. We were really active, and with Kevin [Vauquelin] it was a really good move, and that's exactly why I wanted to join this team, to play like this in these kind of races you know. I think maybe we don't have the strongest guy outright, but together with our strengths, then we can make things happen".
Onley rode to fourth in the overall classification, the same position he had on the Alto da Fóia. "Yeah, I think there's definitely some room for improvement. I know that I can, normally, improve just by doing a few races, so hopefully to improve already for Paris-Nice in a couple of weeks, and yeah, it's going well".
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Roglic could not have won anyway, after Jonas followed him when Roglic decided it was his turn for a stage win. Jonas had already attacked Kuss twice, so it was Jonas who was within seconds of taking the lead before Kuss was 'gifted' the win. It felt a bit like Roglic was being thrown under the bus when the team made his unhappiness public.Hills3314-11-2026
- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
- Martinez had a good year! 5th at the Tour was a great result for him, albeit largely through getting in successful breaks, but he held it better than Pidcock who’d done the same.Lozza14-11-2026
- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment