"Tadej Pogacar and João Almeida are similar, they manage pressure well" - Rui Oliveira compares UAE Team Emirates' leaders

UAE Team Emirates will have a respectable contingent in the next edition of the Tour de France in 2024, with João Almeida, Juan Ayuso, Adam Yates and of course, Tadej Pogacar.

Rui Oliveira won't be part of the eight chosen for the Tour, but as he tells "O Jogo" he will be watching closely, cheering on the team from home. Oliveira also comments on his compatriot and teammate João Almeida, who will be helping Tadej Pogacar try to regain the victory that has eluded him in the last two editions. "It's important for João to race the Tour, to see how he feels. João is a champion, a winner, but he's very professional and will put his selfishness aside to help Tadej. There won't be so much pressure and it will be good for João to have another role."

Oliveira praises Almeida for his achievements in the Giro d'Italia. "He'd have been on the podium by 2022 if it hadn't been for Covid-19. He's evolved a lot, he knows how to handle pressure. He'll do better every year. We can dream of João winning big races and his podium in this year's Giro was proof of that."

Rui Oliveira looks at João Almeida and compares him to Pogacar: "In terms of style, João and Tadej are similar: they're relaxed with their teammates and manage pressure well."

He recalls that "Pogacar didn't have Vingegaard's preparation for the Tour de France, because he fractured his wrist, but he still had a surreal Tour. He'd have been more evenly matched if it hadn't been for his injury. He always wants to win. There are more demanding races that may not help the Tour, but he wants to win the 5 Monuments. I've changed my opinion that only strong riders can win Paris-Roubaix."

Seen as Tadej Pogacar's faithful squire in the Classics, he recalls the Slovenian's attack for victory in this year's Tour of Flanders: "We knew we had to race hard. We had Trentin at the front, we were assured. We started pulling and on the second pass through the Oude Kwaremont, Tadej signaled us to make a dent. He took off and gained many meters on us. Nobody expected us to do that from so far away. Then he did what he does best," the Portuguese concluded.