Joao Almeida talks about the Basque Country, the future and remains humble: "Am I the best Portuguese cyclist today? Rui Costa was already World Champion"

After conquering the Itzulia Basque Country last week, with two stage wins and a dominant display, João Almeida couldn't hide his satisfaction with one of the most remarkable moments of his career. The Portuguese rider from UAE Team Emirates - XRG called this victory his most important to date, highlighting the consistency and control he maintained throughout the week.

"Fortunately I've had good wins in big races, but this was an overall win, in one of the most important races in the world, and I managed to win with a very dominant victory and with two stage wins. Of course, all victories are important, they have their weight. I hope to have victories that surpass this one, but this one, for now, is number one," he said into the TSF microphone.

Almeida explained that the team started the race with ambition, even though the course wasn't entirely suited to their characteristics. "We started this race with the aim of winning, even though it wasn't a perfect course for me. We have to be realistic, this year I've been doing races that are my way, but I've been catching opponents like Jonas Vingegaard, who isn't just any opponent, he's one of the best in the world, who has won the Tour de France more than once."

With Vingegaard absent from this edition of the Basque competition, the Portuguese player didn't fail to recognize the quality of his remaining rivals. "Jonas wasn't there, he's an opponent who carries a lot of weight. The other cyclists are also very strong, but I knew I was doing very well, and even though it wasn't a course that suited me, I showed what a racer I am and gave my best, which is the most important thing."

Asked about the key moments of the race, João highlighted the initial time trial and his first stage win. "I'd say probably the first day, the time trial. I did a very good time trial, I put time into all my opponents straight away. Every stage has its weight, and then the first stage win, where I put time into my opponents and showed who was the strongest. Those two days were the most important. Every day counts a little. Every detail is important."

Regarding the growing status he has achieved within Portuguese cycling, João responds with humility. "I'm happy about that, but it's always a bit relative. Rui Costa isn't a Grand Tour racer, he's a racer for the Classics, for week-long races, the Tour of Switzerland, which he's won several times. Rui has already been World Champion. Whoever says Rui says other Portuguese cyclists. Personally, I feel pretty good and I've brought good things to Portugal, and I hope to bring even more."

He continues: "Whether I'm the best or not is relative, but the most important thing is to do my best. I want to be the best version of myself and, if that happens, I'll always be happy."

As for the future, his goals are clear and include helping Tadej Pogacar in the Tour de France, even if that means giving up his own ambitions. "I want to arrive at the Tour de France in peak form this season, to help Tadej as much as I can. Obviously my result will be secondary. But once I'm in top form to help Tadej, I think my result is always there and it's a question of seeing how we go day by day."

Before then, he'll have two important stops to make. "I'm going to do the Tour of Romandy and the Tour of Switzerland, where I'll do my best, and the goal will always be to win and win the race."

In the long term, João doesn't hide the dream he's always had: to win one of the Grand Tours. "Career goals? For me, it would be to win a Grand Tour, any of the three. Obviously, to win the Tour de France... I'd sign for it straight away."

For now, Almeida is looking to the present with confidence, but with his feet firmly on the ground: "I hope there are more victories to come, but deep down I hope I don't have any mishaps, no bad luck, no falls. That's the main thing. Then hard work and dedication will do the rest."