“It has to be Team Almeida” – De Cauwer calls for UAE to back Almeida against Vingegaard

The second rest day of the 2025 Vuelta a España arrives with the race finely poised ahead of a decisive third week. Stage 13 on the Angliru shifted the balance, with João Almeida showing he is a genuine challenger to Jonas Vingegaard’s grip on the red jersey. The Dane has two stage victories compared to Almeida’s one, yet the margin between them is just 48 seconds.

Cycling analyst José De Cauwer described the situation as rare for this point in a Grand Tour. "That doesn't happen often in the final week of a Grand Tour," he said. "I thought Vingegaard would make a more pronounced impression. In recent days, things have shifted a bit in Almeida's favor. We now have two favorites, which makes it more beautiful."

Jonas Vingegaard must be becoming sick of the sight of a UAE jersey. For the past five years he has battled Tadej Pogacar during the Tour de France, and now he is being challenged by Almeida at the Vuelta.

Despite Almeida’s rise, UAE Team Emirates – XRG has not yet committed fully to backing him. The team has dominated the Vuelta with seven stage wins out of 15, but not all of that collective strength has been focused on Almeida’s general classification challenge. De Cauwer believes that must change if the Portuguese rider is to have a chance in Madrid. "The final victory must be the most important thing. They must, above all, fully support Almeida," he insisted. "I don't think it will come from Ayuso. I've mainly seen a very good Großschartner."

Uncertainty remains about Almeida’s ability to finish off a Grand Tour. "We still have to see if Almeida can close a gap in a Grand Tour. We already know that about Vingegaard," De Cauwer noted. The time trial scheduled for Thursday could be a turning point. "There's a really nice time trial coming up. Vingegaard didn't really have a good feeling about it after the Tour."

The race will conclude with one of its toughest climbs, the Bola del Mundo, on Saturday. De Cauwer expects fireworks on the final summit finish. "That's a stage with over 4,000 meters of elevation gain. We might end up with an all-out race, with someone who dares to lose. Then we'll have to go all out," he said. "You have to try to seize the opportunities that come your way. I think Almeida will be a little more daring. The team will now understand that it has to be 'team Almeida.'"