Almeida admits UAE 'wasn’t perfect' in Vuelta support
João Almeida emerged as one of the standout riders of the 2025 Vuelta a España, finishing second overall behind Jonas Vingegaard. In an interview with Observador, the Portuguese rider reflected on his runner-up finish, acknowledged UAE Team Emirates “wasn’t perfect” in support, and commented on Juan Ayuso’s imminent departure from the team.
"In the last days I felt sick, I had the flu. I had nothing to lose," said Almeida. "I gave my maximum and tried to put him [Vingegaard] in difficulty. It didn't work."
Despite mounting a serious challenge to Vingegaard throughout the three-week race and securing a memorable victory on the legendary Angliru climb, Almeida admitted defeat was inevitable during the penultimate stage.
"Until the last kilometre of stage 20 I always believed. That's when I threw in the towel, because Vingegaard was in front," he explained.
Almeida lit up the race with victory on the Angliru and mounted a consistent GC challenge, but admitted UAE had its shortcomings. “Perhaps on one day I felt the absence of my teammates,” he said. “Overall we were excellent and the team supported me a lot. We weren’t perfect, but we gave our best.”
He also addressed the timing of Ayuso’s exit, which was announced during the race. “We already knew before the Vuelta that he was leaving,” Almeida said. “I don’t know why the team wanted to announce it then. I think he wanted more opportunities. In a team with Pogacar it’s not easy to keep everyone happy.”
Following his strong performance, the 27-year-old Portuguese has climbed to fifth in the UCI world rankings, behind only Tadej Pogačar, Vingegaard, Mads Pedersen and Mathieu van der Poel. Among Grand Tour specialists, he now ranks third globally.
Almeida's next target will be the European Championships in France, where he'll lead the Portuguese national team. He has decided to skip the World Championships in Rwanda, explaining: “It’s my choice. I wouldn’t arrive in good condition and the preparation wouldn’t be good,” he explained. “At the Europeans, finishing in the top ten would be a good goal.”
Looking ahead to next season, Almeida has made no secret of his ambition to win a Grand Tour. "I'd like to return to the Giro, because I have a special history with the Giro. I'd like to go back and compete for the race," he said, acknowledging that plans must be coordinated with teammate Pogačar.
His 2024 campaign has already been remarkable, with ten victories including three one-week stage races, culminating in his landmark performance at the Vuelta where he pushed Vingegaard to the limit.
"We finished with a beautiful second place and aspirations to do better in the future," Almeida concluded.
