Almeida admits 'little confidence' ahead of Vuelta but committed to Pogacar goal
Last year's runner-up arrives in Spain as a key lieutenant of Tadej Pogacar after a difficult season disrupted by illness.
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João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) has admitted he will start the Vuelta a España with “little confidence” after a difficult 2026 campaign, but insists he is motivated to put everything into supporting Tadej Pogačar’s (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) bid to complete the Grand Tour set.
Almeida began the season on a solid note, finishing second at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and third at the Volta ao Algarve.
His ambitions of leading the Emirati team at the Giro d’Italia were derailed by illness and abnormal blood-test results, forcing him to take an extended break from racing and turning his attention towards the Vuelta.
The 28-year-old made a low-key return at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, abandoning the race after stage 6, before a further setback came at the Tour de Pologne earlier this month when he was involved in a crash and forced to abandon before the start of the next stage.
The accumulation of setbacks during his preparation has left Almeida unsure of what level he can reach in Spain.
“It’s been a complicated year. I’m arriving here feeling good, but with little confidence,” Almeida said in his pre-race press conference.
Almeida returns to the Vuelta after winning a stage on the Alto de l’Angliru and finishing second overall to Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike), leaving him with positive memories ahead of the 2026 edition.
“I really enjoy the Vuelta, and I’ve ridden it a few times already,” said Almeida. “I’m highly motivated and hope things go well, that I can enjoy the race and have a great time with my teammates, who are like a second family to me.”
Joining Almeida in the UAE line-up are Ivo Oliveira, Domen Novak, Pavel Sivakov, Pablo Torres, Kevin Vermaerke and Jay Vine, with the ambition of supporting Pogačar, who returns to the race for the first time since 2019.
Pogačar, fresh off winning a record-equalling fifth Tour de France, will be looking to become the ninth male rider to win all three Grand Tours, joining Vingegaard, who completed the set at the Giro in May.
“I hope to be at my best, and I’ll give it my all, because we have a race to win,” he said. “I am here to help Tadej win the one thing that’s still missing from his palmarès. If I can achieve a good result myself after that... all the better.”
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