"We can only get better" - João Almeida content with start but hoping for improvement in the coming stages at the Giro d'Italia
Cycling
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."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Where Merckx just rode every single race he could and won all the time, Hinault won less often (percentage wise) because he was more judicious in what he raced. His palmares are nuts. He had amazing rivals, one to start his career and another to end it in the grand tours. His classics were solid. What sets him apart from Merckx and Pogačar are that he basically dabbled in the classics while the other two love(d) them. I used to compare Pogačar to Hinault for his grand tour record and occasional classics win, until I realized that the comparison was wrong. Pogačar loves the classics - ah, the memory of his reaction to finishing fourth in a 2 person sprint in Flanders in ‘22: utter domination in any one day race since then, even when he doesn’t win. Hinault lived for the grand tours and I don’t think anyone else will ever reach his record. 10 wins in 13 attempts? Good lord. An amazing rider. Wish there was more footage to watch.RidesHills11-11-2026
- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment