'It's a pity it wasn't the 27km course' - Almeida gains 10 seconds on Vingegaard in reduced TT

Almeida appeared to be slightly annoyed regarding the shortening of the stage. "I did the best I could," he told Eurosport. "It's not an effort that really suits me, but it's a pity it was not the 27km course." 

The time trial was reduced from its original 27km length to just 12.2 kilometres for reasons of safety amid ongoing protests at Israel-Premier Tech's presence on the Vuelta.

It left riders to adapt to the modified course at the last moment. Despite the change, Almeida managed to deliver a fine performance as he gained 10 seconds on Vingegaard in the general classification.

The Portuguese rider remains in second place overall but has closed to within 40 seconds of Vingegaard. Despite admitting to fatigue the previous day, Almeida showed impressive form that will boost his confidence for the remaining stages.

When asked about the permanent question mark of what might have happened on the full-length 27 kilometre course, Almeida maintained a pragmatic outlook.

"We'll never know. Life is based on 'ifs' so you cannot really think much about it," he explained. "We can still be pretty satisfied with the outcome. I felt quite strong. As cyclists, we adapt quite well to any scenario." 

Regarding his strategy for the final three stages and his pursuit of Vingegaard who Almeida can see in the horizon, he emphasised how important it was to maintain a consistent approach.

"It's the same as the first day. We do the best we can every day. Some days we have bad days, some days we have good days," he said. "We just need to stay focused and do our best. In the end, that's everything we can control."

The time gains, while modest, keep Almeida's hopes alive as the race heads toward its conclusion, with the battle for the top step of the podium remaining active as ever as Vingegaard is appearing to fade.