"We can only get better" - João Almeida content with start but hoping for improvement in the coming stages at the Giro d'Italia

After Remco Evenepoel's abandonment due to covid, João Almeida now lies fourth overall in the general classification at the Giro d'Italia, just 17 seconds off the podium. With the big mountains still to come, the Portuguese is hoping to make his move.

"Overall I think it was pretty good, I lost a little bit of time on the corners which was an issue, and especially in the first part I wasn't so confident," Almeida told Cycling News following the conclusion of the stage 9 time-trial where the UAE Team Emirates leader finished in 9th position. "But I didn't lose so much time to the other guys. Of course, I thought I could be up there, but it's still a long Giro and I am in a good position."

As mentioned, the stage winner of stage 9, Remco Evenepoel has now been sadly forced to abandon the Giro d'Italia after testing positive for covid. With the Soudal - Quick-Step man now removed from the general classification, INEOS Grenadiers's Geraint Thomas holds the Maglia Rosa by just 2 seconds from Primoz Roglic and 5 seconds ahead of teammate Tao Geoghegan Hart. Almeida meanwhile is 22 seconds behind the Welshman and just 17 seconds of a podium.

"Overall that's pretty good and we can only get better," says Almeida. The rest day though may have come at the wrong time for him as he admits. "Actually, I don't feel like I need one but they're always welcome."