"Now time for some rest and start the preparation for the Giro D’Italia" - João Almeida stands his ground with podium at Volta a Catalunya
Cycling
João Almeida has proven his form during the Volta a Catalunya. It was a tough week of racing but the Portuguese climber has proven his worth as a contender for the Giro d'Italia, as he filled the podium alongside Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel.
“I’m happy with the performance this week. I think the podium is a good result and it shows the form is good ahead of the races to come. Now time for some rest and start the preparation for the Giro D’Italia," Almeida said in a press release from UAE Team Emirates following the final dat of the Catalan race.
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Almeida, such as his two rivals, will target the Giro in May. He's started off the week with bad luck in Vallter 2000 where he suffered a mechanical at the base of the climb, but managed to limit his losses quite well. What followed was a modest performance in La Molina, and then a third place at Lo Port where he looked to contest the stage with Roglic and Evenepoel which was the highlight of the week.
No one could get close, but Almeida was the best of the rest. He and Marc Soler have completed the race in third and fourth positions for UAE Team Emirates, but the 24-year old has given further signs the team should exclusively focus on him this May. Jay Vine has only recently returned to training after a knee injury, and should be the main supporting rider.
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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Almeida closes out #VoltaCatalunya102 with overall podium. 💬 @JooAlmeida98 :“I’m happy with the performance this week. I think the podium is a good result and it shows the form is good ahead of the races to come.” Full report:uaeteamemirates.com/almeida-closes… #UAETeamEmirates #WeAreUAE
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