"Sometimes my teammates take more risks in the corners than I’m comfortable with" - João Almeida plays it safe on stage 5 of 2025 Itzulia Basque Country

With just one stage to go, UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader João Almeida leads the 2025 Itzulia Basque Country by 30 seconds from Max Schachmann. With 7 categorised climbs on the final stage though, the Portuguese is quick to insist that the race is still far from done. 

"It was a good day - definitely fast and pretty tough - but I’m happy," Almeida reflected in a post-stage interview following stage 5, after Ben Healy stunningly soloed to a 50km+ victory. "Once again the team was fantastic. We took control when we needed to, closed the gaps when it was time, and in the final part of the stage, I had teammates helping me keep an eye on my rivals and setting the pace so no one could try anything. I especially want to highlight Igor Arrieta’s performance - despite his crash, he got back on and kept pushing hard."

In terms of the GC, things were largely quiet on stage 5. "I wasn’t in the perfect position on the final climb. Sometimes my teammates take more risks in the corners than I’m comfortable with, and I chose not to take any chances - especially since I was feeling really good. I just preferred to stay calm rather than risk crashing," Almeida concludes, before casting an eye towards the final day. "I’m not afraid of anyone. There are a few riders who’ve shown they’re in great form, especially the ones in the top five. It’ll definitely be a good battle, but we have to stay confident and do our best."