Unpredictable wind didn't let Joao Almeida fight for the first red jersey: "It was a real shame, but it is what it is"
Cycling
Vuelta a Espana started today with an individual time trial in Lisbon, with three Portuguese in the peloton. All of them were provided with an extensive support of home fans over the 12-kilometer with the race's first red jersey in stake.
One of the men most in demand at the end of his individual effort was UAE Team Emirates rider João Almeida, who has felt a huge outpouring of support these days, as he is the Portuguese's great hope for a top result in the general classification. "It was the first time I've been this busy. For Tadej Pogacar it's probably like this every day," joked Almeida in the post-race interview. "I'm very grateful for all this support, it really makes all the difference," confesses João with a huge smile.
As for his time trial, Almeida left the ramp at a time when the wind was intense and after kilometer 4 there was no hiding from it, leaving him completely exposed. But that was the same for almost all the men in the peloton who came out later for the individual effort: "I'm happy with my time trial, I planned it well. It was very windy, especially at the end. It was a real shame, but it is what it is. My legs are fine, so I guess that's a good thing," concluded the young man from Caldas da Rainha. The race will be passing by his house on tomorrow's stage.
Today's stage left João Almeida 19 seconds off the lead, which belongs to his teammate Brandon McNulty. As for the main GC favourites, Almeida only lost 3 seconds to Primoz Roglic, and gained time on everyone else. Compared to the likes of Enric Mas, Richard Carapaz, Mikel Landa or Carlos Rodriguez, Almeida already has a lead of twenty seconds or more.
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- Oh Lordspock12319-12-2024
- Interesting suggestion, fo you think testing Tadej’s (or Bolts’ or so many others’) parents would have given us a preview of his potential then or what criteria do you have to pick parents with?Mistermaumau19-12-2024
- Even amateur teams suffer this sort. But this is also largely due to the precarious sponsorship, in very few sports do you find kit with so many sponsors having to be integrated and changing so regularly.Mistermaumau19-12-2024
- I think it’s pretty obvious what was responsible for destroying interest that used to be there.Mistermaumau19-12-2024
- This has been stated repeatedly, MVDP for CX, road and if it already counts, gravel. Lavreysen for track. I expect as a cycling fan you’ve heard of them?Mistermaumau19-12-2024
- The same thing was said when Tadej announced that he would ride the Giro: "he goes to Il Giro because he knows he can't win the Tour". Always negative speculations. Maybe Primoz, near to the final of his career, simply wants to try this experience.
maria2024202419-12-2024 - If Valentino Rossi could never win during his period of dominance, and massive personality, then Pogacar not winning isn't a massive surprise. Cycling isn't a Premier League global sport......only one event reaches the mainstream every year - and that's not good enough.wipperman9519-12-2024
- I don't think it's only a British thing; the biggest talents aren't usually drawn to CX. Where are all the top Italian, French, Spanish, Slovenian CX riders? Apart from Belgium, and Netherlands, it's not really a target for up and coming cyclists - as there's no career unless you move to Belgium. Other countries can't support a proper professional series, like an international sport should be able to do. Lets not forget, since 2016, British riders have won plenty of World championships; with Pidcock, Richards, Tulett & Backstedt all winning more than one..... And, there was a time when Belgium didn't rule the roost in CX; that was Switzerland, but since the advent of XC MTB, their top off-road talents race there instead of CX - and the 2nd raters not good enough for XC MTB, race CX.wipperman9519-12-2024
- "25-34 are only 13% of USA Cyclings membership" Wow. I own a bike shop, and that number comports both with what I see in the business as well as on the road and trails, but it's somehow hugely demoralizing to see it quantified. Thirteen percent?verve82519-12-2024
- What super dutch talent are we talking about?awp18-12-2024