INTERVIEW | "I had the ability to be on the podium" - João Almeida on crashing out of Tour de France; Pogacar relationship; Giro-Vuelta lead

João Almeida was the first rider to go up when it came to talking about the 2026 season at UAE Team Emirates - XRG's training camp. The Portuguese rider is racing the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España, being given the freedom to lead in both Grand Tours in search of his first win. He has discussed his calendar, goals, training, relationships with Tadej Pogacar and more.

In words to CyclingUpToDate and TopCycling following his press conference, Almeida expanded on some of the topics that were discussed during the press conference. In 2025, he won Itzulia Basque Country, Tour de Romandie and Tour de Suisse; before crashing out of the Tour de France, and making a great comeback at the Vuelta a España where he finished second only to Jonas Vingegaard.

For 2026, the goal is clear: "Yes, the goal is to win a Grand Tour," he tells our microphone. "And also if you did the Tour-Vuelta, I think that the goal would be to be less reachable than if I did Giro-Vuelta. And it's that, I maximize my opportunities". 

It came as a relative surprise, taking into consideration the Portuguese rider's strong relationship with Tadej Pogacar, and the assumption that Isaac del Toro would return to be the leader at the Giro in an effort to get his revenge and capture the pink jersey.

But the Emirati team has other plans, and Almeida will be the sole leader. "Yes, I think I'm going to be a solo leader. I don't know if Adam... I think Adam [Yates] is more present, but I'm not sure. But I think that when the time trial comes, I'll be a little more present". This means that, adding to Jonas Vingegaard - who isn't certain, but extremely likely to participate in the Corsa Rosa, the two could be the main favourites for a second Grand Tour in a row.

"This is not a big deal. I think it can help me a lot. When there are not very strong riders, the race is slightly more open, my team ends up suffering a little more. We also have to be realistic. I think we are amongst the strongest riders who will be present. So the responsibility will always fall on us, on me. And if there is someone like Jonas Vingegaard and Visma, I think that responsibility is kind of split," he believes. "And I think it's good for me too. Obviously, the chance of winning decreases when they come back out there. But no one wants a Grand Tour to be easy".

But the summer is not a distant memory. After crashing out of the Tour de France, following a crash on stage 7 of the Tour, Almeida hit a strong low point. "Sadness. I was there with the goal of helping Tadej, but you always have a result and be up front. After the fall, I knew I would be in bad conditions. It was a very rough fall, and I was also a little unmotivated. But on the positive side, it was not a serious injury, nothing special. These are things that recover relatively quickly".

He also felt like his presence would've made a difference for the Slovenian. "Maybe I was missed more in the final week, there were some tight moments. But I knew he was in good hands and in the end its the legs that matter, and he was also good despite having a knee injury".

Behind was a missed opportunity, with a podium spot possible after he finished fourth whilst executing the same role in the team one year prior. "Of course, I also think that without a being there you will never know. You have to speculate as much as possible, there are many things that can happen. But I clearly feel I had the ability to be in the podium".

Although not at his ideal race weight, he returned to racing at the Vuelta, where he quickly proved to be Vingegaard's closest rival. "It was much better than I was expecting. I also have to tell you that I was happy. I've always had a very solid base in my training, and it has always been a good physical form. It has always been a very considerable and acceptable form," he assures. 

He used this form to capture a second place overall, but not before being a strong contestant to the Dane's red jersey, and not before beating him on the Alto de l'Angliru - the race's hardest climbs, and one of the most mythical in all of cycling.

He puts this forward as the best win of his season - and that says a lot, for a rider who has won three World Tour stage-races. "I think we will have to highlight Angliru because of the mythical climb, and because it was against Vingegaard. But I had more victories that I felt very proud of".

Another one was at the Tour de Suisse, where he won the overall classification, after several days of attacking the race to close down a gap that opened on the first day to riders such as Kévin Vauquelin and Julian Alaphilippe. In particular, stage 4 to Piuro, where he attacked from very far on the final climb of the day, and then took a strong solo win in a similar way to what Pogacar does.

"Yes, it was the typical 'there's nothing to lose'. We were a long time behind due the first stage. As I always say, there's nothing to lose, and I tried my luck, obviously, everything well calculated. We also have to highlight that they are very strong climbers, but not at the level of Vingegaard, of Pogacar of Remco Evenepoel. They are strong climbers, but of course it is easier to do that kind of exhibition," he argues.

Now entering 2026, there are good reasons for the 27-year old to be motivated and ambitious. "I think I've had a lot of victories and races. I think it's no longer the goal to improve on it. Although they were only 10 victories, they were very big victories in general. I think it has another dimension".

After succeeding greatly this year, the three-week races really are the next step. "But it ends up being the goal to try to win a Grand Tour. And a few more races in a week that I haven't won yet. And that's it. My goal is always to keep evolving and getting stronger. And my focus is on my evolution, and not so much on the results".

On his calendar are the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana, Figueira Champions Classic, Volta ao Algarve, Paris-Nice and Volta a Catalunya to make for another very busy spring. This comes before his specific preparation and start to the Giro d'Italia.

"Yes, I wanted to win more races in a week. I think winning Algarve would be very interesting, because it's my home race. I've been there several times, it's an excellent race. There are always riders who are in a very good shape at the beginning of the season. And, well, going back to Paris-Nice, which is also a race I like to do, although sometimes the route doesn't favour me much".

"And Cataunya, too. I would like to win a Catalunya once. I've finished on the podium twice or three times, I think. I don't know if I've done it so many times (laughs, ed.). I would like to win. It's almost the same race at home, I live so close in Andorra. I have that feeling of going to the race by car, coming back from the race, and training so much there, in that area that I already feel familiar with. And it's a great race, and I would like to win it, too".

Almeida feels good coming into the new season, and he will have almost full independence to follow his own ambitions. In his schedule isn't any race, so far, where he will team up with Tadej Pogacar.

With the two being quite close, this could have some effect on the chemistry, but that does not seem to be the case between the two climbers. "This also happened a short time ago, so there was no reaction yet, but I think he was happy about it," he concluded.