Positive news for Pogacar? João Almeida reportedly set to renew contract with UAE Team Emirates - XRG

After a rough stretch at the Tour de France, João Almeida finally has a reason to look ahead with optimism. The Portuguese rider, who crashed during Stage 7 and ultimately abandoned the race on Stage 9, is on the verge of extending his contract with UAE Team Emirates – XRG, the topranked team in the world.

Though the renewal hasn’t yet been officially announced, Record reports that the deal is nearly finalised. Almeida’s current contract runs through the end of 2026, and the extension would keep him with the Emirati team until 2028. That would place him among an elite group of riders with long-term deals at UAE, including Tadej Pogacar, Juan Ayuso, Adam Yates, Jan Christen, Isaac del Toro, and Pablo Torres.

Almeida joined UAE in 2022 after a breakout stint with Deceuninck–Quick-Step. His first season with the team saw him finish 3rd at the Volta a Catalunya and 4th at the Vuelta a España, though a COVID-19 infection forced him out of that year’s Giro d’Italia. He stepped up in 2023 with his first Grand Tour podium, 3rd in the Giro, along with a stage win, and consistent form throughout the calendar: 2nd in Tirreno-Adriatico and 3rd in Catalunya.

Then came a big leap in 2024. Making his Tour de France debut as a support rider for Pogacar, Almeida still managed to finish 4th overall, and he placed 2nd in the Tour de Suisse. He was also a favorite at the Vuelta until illness forced him to abandon mid-race.

This year had marked the peak of his career so far. He racked up GC wins in the Tour of the Basque Country, Tour de Romandie, and Tour de Suisse, becoming only the third rider ever to win three week-long WorldTour stage races in the same season. He was also runner-up in the Tour of the Algarve, beaten only by Jonas Vingegaard.

Heading into the Tour de France, Almeida was seen as a legitimate podium threat. But a crash derailed that ambition, and he fought through nearly two stages with a fractured rib before pulling out. He will be sorely missed by Pogacar and UAE in the mountains, and Almeida was genuinely in with a shout of the podium himself.

In total, Almeida has taken 16 victories since joining Joxean Matxin’s squad. As he begins his recovery, attention now turns to his next big goal: the Vuelta a España, which starts August 23.