"I’m ready to keep fighting to the end" - João Almeida keeps riding himself into Giro win contention

João Almeida has been a nervous sighting for many at the Giro d'Italia this year, as the UAE Team Emirates' leader rides at his own pace in every summit finish and at the end he keeps riding incredibly consistently into what is currently a spot on the podium.

“It was a really hard day out there. To be honest I was surprised with my myself, since the start it was full gas the whole day and I didn’t really have any chance to pause and breath a little bit," Almeida said after high eighth place in Aprica, which saw him loose seconds to the leading trio, but remain well inside the fight for the victory only 44 seconds behind Richard Carapaz in the overall classification.

After a stressful day, Almeida had the luck of the GC group not going full-gas on the descent of the Mortirolo, and the rain having been absent until the very end of the stage. In his traditional style, Almeida rode at his pace in the final ascent, staying in sight of Mikel Landa as he attacked the GC group with Richard Carapaz and Jai Hindley on his wheel. Almeida rode himself into the finish only 14 seconds after the trio, in a display of power that proved impressive on such a brutal mountain day.

I’m really happy with my performance and with the result and I’m ready to keep fighting to the end. We are still up there within a minute of the lead so I’m really happy where I am and looking forward to the next days," he concluded. Although he won't have much terrain to make a difference, the final time-trial does allow some differences to be created in which the 23-year old will be looking forward to.