"Primoz can still definitely win" - João Almeida hints Roglic for potential Vuelta victory
CyclingMonday, 07 September 2026 at 11:15
João Almeida is not playing the role he wished for at the Vuelta a España, but as the race progresses, the Portuguese climber progresses in form and slowly returns to a competitive shape. He has spoken about the Vuelta's GC battle and the extreme heat that concerns him.
Almeida was at the start of the Vuelta despite being far from his best form, something he deemed important after a year that was wrecked by an unknown virus that has kept him away from a strong level for half a year already.
"I had a virus in March and I never really recovered very well. I kept training and insisting we were getting my shape back, which of course wouldn't come back," Almeida shared with Cyclingnews before stage 15. "And then things just got worse and worse.
After months either training to an unexpected level of exhaustion, recovering from the virus, and trying to train his way back into form, the return to racing at the Tour de Pologne was not beneficial for him and put another obstacle in the way.
"I crashed in Poland (at the Tour de Pologne, ed.) and then I was sick as well so i spent four days off the bike, so it was far from ideal. But I think my condition is improving here, within the limits I have, of course because miracles don't really happen from one day to the other. So we keep trying. We keep doing our best. That's everything I can do."
From the breakaway, Almeida was 10th on the stage to Sierra de la Pandera - his best stage result since the Volta ao Algarve back in February.
Primoz Roglic can still win La Vuelta
Almeida is not part of the fight for the overall classification anymore, and due to Tadej Pogacar's withdrawal, not a factor in it either. Enric Mas leads the fight with 2:06 minutes over Felix Gall and 2:10 minutes on Primoz Roglic.
"The last two stages and the TT are going to make big gaps. I think so far nothing is really decided. Enric is looking really good, but it's all about the TT right," Almeida argued. Primoz Roglic, third, still has realistic chances of winning in Granada he recons.
"I think everything is very open and Primoz can still definitely win. I think his form is growing in this Vuelta and I would say Felix Gall also looks really good. Of course, normally he will have big problems in the TT, right?"
João Almeida believes Primoz Roglic can still win Vuelta a España
Almeida worries about the extreme heat
Almeida has also been one of the critical voices about the conditions the riders are being forced to race on. This Sunday, the average temperatures were above 40 degrees celsius according to the bike computers of the riders.
"I think the heat is a bit limiting because we are reaching the limit of the human body, which is a bit dangerous," he argues.
"It's not easy to explain, but it's kind of part of our preparation to do heat training, and so you can ride in these conditions. You ride easy, it's no problem and get plenty of water and refresh yourself. But it's not easy to race for us, it's different so it can definitely be dangerous. We need to look out for each other."
The Portuguese rider does not enjoy racing in the head and does not thrive in it either. If he was contesting for the overall classification, it could prove to be a challenge too difficult to overcome.
"I always struggle a lot with it. For me it's hard and it affects me a lot. I think it's the same for everybody but some guys are better than others. And it's one of those things where you really can't make any mistakes, otherwise you're in big trouble."
"You saw how it affected the guys yesterday, but it's also day after day... The dehydration and the heat, yeah, it's no joke."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
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.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
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)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- If security and health were a problem, then yesterday should have been canceled altogether. It was 36° in Villaviciosa yesterday but 41° in Córdoba city where the race finished. As I stated where most of the race took place was on long narrow country roads with deep ditches and slopes on either side. No where to park a car or stand safely and watch. As for living somewhere else?To have cycling on my doorstep? Thank you. I also have a chalet in Alpe d'Huez, which I use in the winter mainly for skiing. But was extremely fortunate to watch Tadej Pogaćar's record breaking ascent on July 24th.RolandDekker07-09-2026
- Correction: 63000 swiss = $77,891 or 67.035 euros.PogiSloFans07-09-2026
- Janja Garnbret a year ago about Pogačar: "Tadej is considered the best cyclist in the world because of his rare combination of unmatched physical endurance, explosive power, and an all-around racing style that lets him win almost any type of event. He also has exceptional tactical intelligence and racecraft. A few months ago he said to me: In my view, cycling intelligence is simple... keep control, play smart, avoid overthinking, and ensure you have the best legs on the day."PogiSloFans07-09-2026
- Seixas, instead of doing the tdf and riding round, should've done this and he'd have won it
leedorney07-09-2026 - Haven’t seen many crowds lately and sorry but temperatures are certainly above average with 45.7 yesterday. Every degree starts to count above 36, 37 and each is a lot worse than the previous one. Security and health should definitely trump fans, especially for a free event. Should consider moving to a different part of the world if you live for cycling coming to your doorstep.Jumpyjohn06-09-2026
- Didn’t want but did and the opposite in the Vuelta, someone might have to start reviewing strategies.Jumpyjohn06-09-2026
- Hopefully with these kind of experiences, more people will start to think a bit deeper about all the exploited that have to work all day almost day in worse heat with no-one to feed or hydrate them. The deaths in the name of being on time for hosting mega sport events didn’t register on people’s consciousness very long, if at all. Is it a coincidence there’s quite a few connections between some of the sponsors in cycling and those events. Makes you wonder how much they’d be willing to pay to start a summer cycling league for has been cyclists, or is that only interesting with football?Jumpyjohn06-09-2026
- There is no right or wrong. Different strokes. He at least knows it because he allows eaxh to answer for themselves, is that what cycling wants? Obviously quite a few do because that’s how it is. Now, I’m not saying he doesn’t have a point but if you’re going to go down a path like that then how far are you willing to go? Will you also reconsider the financial inequalities and other problems precarious teams have to deal with, or the pressures they are under to survive, something none of the top tier teams really have to think about when planning a season?Jumpyjohn06-09-2026
- The number of participants is limited anyway. Before asking others to join the big races he should also be explaining who they should then be replacing who are taking part.Jumpyjohn06-09-2026
- An absolutely perfectly played out win by van Aert. The rest couldn’t attack him in any successful way and he was just that much stronger. It’s nice to see him back after that terrible 2024 crash. As fun as ever to watchRidesHills06-09-2026
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