"That's what I have in mind” - João Almeida has Vuelta vision as he dampens Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes expectations
Cycling
João Almeida approaches the start of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026 with caution, but also optimism after several difficult months in which he struggled to find his best legs. The Portuguese rider, still one of the peloton’s key contenders for Grand Tours, made it clear that his main goal this season is the 2026 Vuelta a España.
“For me, personally, that’s what I have in mind,” Almeida said when asked if his schedule is geared more towards the Vuelta than the 2026 Tour de France on Cycling Pro Net.
The rider explained that the past few weeks were anything but easy ahead of the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes. After an inconsistent start to the season and failing to reach his expected level, he decided to step back to reset both physically and mentally.
“It’s been ups and downs. Then I kept training, but things weren’t really going well, so I took a break,” he noted.
That call seems to have paid off. Almeida said he has been back to work for three or four weeks with better sensations and feels competitive again. He added: “Three or four weeks ago I started training again and here I am. I feel good, and that’s the most important thing.”
Joao Almeida, at the 2026 Vuelta a España
Almeida keeps his cool at the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes
Although he is not setting concrete targets for this week in France, he admits the race will be an important test to gauge his progress.
“I’m feeling good in training, things are going well. I hope to be at my normal level in one or two months, I don’t know,” the Portuguese rider explained. “This week is to see where I really am.”
That’s why Almeida tackles the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes without added pressure or immediate ambitions in the standings. “I’m not bringing objectives or anything like that. I’ll just see how I feel.”
Read also
The Portuguese rider’s comments point to a gradual build with an eye on the second half of the season, where the Vuelta a España could become his major challenge and the race where he aims to finally rediscover his best version.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Who cares what Bruyneel thinks. He and his best mate Lance, the biggest fraud in the history of sport, have no place commenting on anything but how to lie and cheat!whit2pet02-11-2026
- Eeesh!Lozza02-11-2026
- bravo! a rider likes jonas needs motivation and he needs to believe in being able to reach goals. he - like anybody else in the world - doesn't believe that he can win the tdf with pogi present. and what's it worth for when pogi is not there? second class victory only. he has checked all three grand tours, so what is left if not retire? the classics! go for it, jonas!Ketterechts02-11-2026
- i am sure that under the pretext of medical examination a lot worse has happened when they were under.abstractengineer02-11-2026
- dude, Lemond never even was in the same race as Armstrong. He throws all these aspersions on other American riders who might usurp his throne as the greatest ever American racer. He doesn't say a single thing about (foreign) dopers who he actually raced against. Biggest douchebag move ever. I used to revere that guy, now I despise him. His actions are so weird.fatsupermodel02-11-2026
- This is just stupid, You do what you are good at not what you are weak at. He has no results to speak of when he participated. Even Froome, Conatdor had very little. With Pogi there he wont win none of the classics. he is already 30+ with a few years left at the top. It takes years to get good at classics. Is that really worth the effort???abstractengineer02-11-2026
- Sure, little fella.awp02-11-2026
- You'll be the ongoing joke of 2027 with anything you post here!frieders302-11-2026
- Awwww your inside information must be from PogiFanGirl. You two daughters of different mothers?frieders302-11-2026
- Hey PogIFanGirl...wipe that cream from your lips! You're ever loving drooling and whatever you have for Tadej has your brain fried!frieders302-11-2026
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