“I’m here to help Pogacar win” - Joao Almeida makes no secret of his Vuelta a España goals as doubts remain about his GC fitness
Cycling
Joao Almeida approaches the 2026 Vuelta a España with a different goal than his brilliant ride last year might suggest. The Portuguese, runner-up overall in 2025, arrives in Spain looking to regain rhythm after a season marred by physical issues and, above all, to put himself at the service of Tadej Pogacar.
The UAE Team Emirates XRG rider has been unable to reproduce in the first half of the year the level he showed last season. A series of illnesses disrupted his build-up and kept him from racing with the consistency and performance he expected. On top of that came a crash during his stint in Poland and yet another bout of illness that again forced a change of plans.
Even so, Almeida faces La Vuelta with optimism and without setting a specific target in the general classification. His priority is to see how his body responds as the race unfolds and, at the same time, to contribute to the collective goal of a team led by Pogacar as its clear reference.
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“It’s a pleasure to work with Pogacar”
“I’m here to help Pogacar win,” the Portuguese told MARCA before the race. A statement that makes clear what his role will be within UAE’s structure.
Almeida knows perfectly well what it means to work for the Slovenian at a Grand Tour and, in fact, played a key part at the 2024 Tour de France, where he finished fourth overall and was one of the important pieces in the team that escorted the contemporary legend to victory.
Sharing another Grand Tour with the Slovenian is also a special motivation for Almeida. “I’ve done it several times and it’s a pleasure to work with him. He gives you a great feeling and, in the end, you become part of a story. I love it and it really excites me,” the Portuguese admitted.

Tadej Pogacar
Optimistic start but doubts remain over fitness
Stage 1 of La Vuelta also brought reasons for optimism. Almeida completed the opening time trial just 18 seconds behind Pogacar, the stage winner, and finished ahead of several riders tipped to fight for the top spots in the general classification. After the difficult months he has endured, that result could be a positive sign.
However, Almeida prefers to keep his feet on the ground. “It depends on my physical condition. I hope to feel good, but we go day by day, seeing how I’m doing. The important thing is to give everything,” he explained.
La Vuelta has only just begun, and the Portuguese still has three weeks ahead to discover how far he can go. His former status as a podium contender remains, for now, in the background.
Almeida has taken on a different challenge: to rediscover his best version while helping Pogacar hunt another Grand Tour victory.

Javier RampeCycling Journalist
Javier Rampe is a sports analyst with more than 15 years of experience. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Cádiz. Despite coming from an academic background not particularly associated with cycling, his passion for both cycling and journalism was instilled in him from an early age. He grew up following Miguel Indurain and José María “El Chava” Jiménez. An admirer of Michael Robinson’s communication style and journalistic approach, he was inspired to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Buenos Aires, which he is currently completing.
He has always maintained close ties with the worlds of sport and culture, contributing from a young age to sports blogs and film and music review websites. His work has appeared in media outlets such as Cope, RAI, and Radio Con Vos. He is also the founder of the cycling-focused podcast El Contraanálisis and the football interview channel Días De Fútbol, dedicated to conversations with professional footballers.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Javier has interviewed some of the most influential figures in modern cycling, including Alejandro Valverde and Tadej Pogačar, as well as key voices in anti-doping policy such as Alberto Yelmo, David Varillas, and Marcelo Milano. Marcos Maynar, in relation to the ‘Operación Ílex’ case, is also among the personalities he has interviewed. He enjoys conducting in-depth analysis of the cycling ecosystem and has attended major events such as Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Itzulia, as well as numerous national cyclo-cross races.
His background in economics, combined with extensive experience in marketing and corporate communications, drives his continuous study of positioning strategies and ensures that he always keeps his focus on crafting compelling and evocative headlines.
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Brucegel15-11-2026 - You are interested in Pogi for one reason only, you feel like you are somehow related because you share some vague geographical identity. Other than that you have very little interest in cycling as all your posts show, if it can’t be connected to Pogi you have nothing to post. That said, recent activity here shows we are attracting quite a crowd from his region.Jumpyjohn15-11-2026
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