Joao Almeida leads UAE's strike team at Itzulia Basque Country: "It's not the ideal route for me, but I'll give it everything I've got"
Cycling
On the eve of his debut in the Itzulia Basque Country, João Almeida showed his motivation and confidence in the collective strength of UAE Team Emirates - XRG, recognizing the unique challenge of the Basque race - one of the toughest on the World Tour calendar.
"We're going to the Basque Country with a very strong team. It will be my first time in this race, so I'm excited about the challenge," said the Portuguese rider on his team's official website. "The passion for cycling in that region is something special. The fans support all the cyclists with great intensity."
João Almeida acknowledges that the course, known for its short, explosive and technical climbs, is not the most favorable for his characteristics, but he guarantees total dedication. "It's a race famous for its toughness. The course isn't ideal for me, but I'll give it my best shot. We have a team with lots of options, and that's always an advantage."
The Portuguese rider arrives in the Basque Country in high spirits after winning stage 7 of Paris-Nice, where he put in an authoritative display in the mountains. "It was a particularly sweet victory, and I'm very pleased to have been able to win this stage. Now we'll try to repeat that level of success at 'La Itzulia'."
UAE Team Emirates - XRG for Itzulia Basque Country 2025:
João Almeida
Felix Großschartner
João Almeida raises his arms after winning the 7th stage of Paris-Nice 2025
However, the first race on Spanish soil will be the GP Miguel Indurain, a one-day race taking place this Saturday, April 5, which usually provides a competitive and unpredictable spectacle. With a finish marked by a succession of explosive climbs, the GP Miguel Induráin is known for tearing the peloton apart and quickly turning into a survival race, with the strongest riders standing out before the final descent into Estella. Last year, it was Brandon McNulty who won the race and this year the UAE is going with a strong bloc capable of reclaiming the title in 2025.
UAE Team Emirates - XRG for the 2025 GP Miguel Indurain:
Igor Arrieta
Isaac del Toro
Felix Großschartner
Vegard Stake Laengen
Brandon McNulty
Marc Soler
Pablo Torres
Read also
We have announced our teams for the @GPIndurainSN and @ehitzulia ⛰️🇪🇸
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) April 3, 2025
🎙️ @JooAlmeida98 “We go into Basque Country with a very strong team. It will be the first time I race here so I’m excited to take it on.” #WeAreUAE
Read more here ➡️ https://t.co/rnlou57NYO pic.twitter.com/WBQCakGcJo
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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