'We have nothing to lose' - Almeida hints at early attacks to anticipate Pogacar at Euros

After a strong performance at the Vuelta a España, where he claimed a stage win and finished 2nd after a battle with Jonas Vingegaard, João Almeida turns his hands to the road race on October 5.

"Mentally, it’s been a bit tough. I didn't do much preparation for the European Championships," Almeida said in an interview with A BOLA. "In truth, I'm not at my best, but I'll give it my all."

Almeida has competed at the European Championships as an elite once previously, when he finished 10th in the time trial and 14th in the road in Trento, Italy, in 2021.

Since then, the 27-year-old has continued to rise up the ranks and further established himself as one of the best climbers and stage racers in the peloton and created history for his home nation, Portugal.

In 2023, Almeida became the first Portuguese rider to finish on the podium of the Giro d’Italia, ending 3rd, before recently achieving the best-ever Portuguese GC position at a Grand Tour, finishing runner-up at the Vuelta, matching Joaquim Agostinho in 1974. This is on top of GC victories in three consecutive WorldTour stage races at Itzulia Basque Country, Tour de Romandie, and Tour de Suisse.

With a strong focus on the Grand Tours, which have yielded plenty of success, one-day racing has taken a back seat in the schedule of the Portuguese rider, but the opportunity to represent Portugal this week was something Almeida couldn’t pass on.

“Representing the National Team is always different, it's motivating. And it's the last race of the year, so you have to give it your all,” said Almeida in an interview with A BOLA.

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider revealed his recovery from the Vuelta has been challenging and admitted this isn’t unusual for him after the Spanish Grand Tour, "I didn't train for a few days, completely stopped. I stayed in Portugal and started training again there, on the roads in my region. But when it came to starting the engine, it wouldn't start... These last few times since the Vuelta have been like that, like a recoil-recoil."

Despite his fatigue, Almeida remains pragmatic about his chances on the difficult course that features multiple ascents of the steep Val D'Enfer.

"It's difficult, it's a constant up and down, with three longer climbs at the beginning and then a leg-breaking circuit that will break it down," Almeida said. "It will be a race of over 200 kilometres, so it will be difficult. We'll see how it unfolds.”

Almeida was asked if he expects the road race to open up early, and whether riders will try to pre-empt the imperious Tadej Pogacar, who is the standout favourite, with pre-emptive attacks.

"I don't know. With the long-range attacks that have been happening, typical of modern cycling, and after what we saw again this weekend at the Rwanda World Championships, we might even see Remco [Evenepoel] try to attack before Pogacar.”

“Maybe surprise him a little, and not wait for him to attack. There may be other riders who will try to anticipate it too, because they know they can't keep up with these two. And don't forget Vingegaard, who will also be there. So I think it will be a very interesting race to watch,” said Almeida.

Almeida also hinted at the possibility of going on the move early when asked if has had an opportunity to check the course out in person.

"No, not yet. I still don't know what it's like. But it'll be interesting to scout it and then try to understand if it might actually be a good idea to try to anticipate. Ultimately, we have nothing to lose, right? Try to anticipate or wait until the end. It'll be cool to see that."