João Almeida Secures Second Place at Vuelta a España Despite Illness

João Almeida finished second overall at the Vuelta a España, overcoming significant challenges due to illness during the final week of the race. Despite battling an influenza virus, Almeida’s performance proved commendable as he pushed himself to the limit, ultimately finishing just behind the race leader, Jonas Vingegaard, in the final stages.

Almeida, 27, reflected on his experience after completing stage 20, where he expressed that the illness had “limited me a lot.” Despite this setback, he and his team, UAE Team Emirates, made strategic decisions to mount a challenge against Vingegaard, such as opting not to send a rider into the day’s breakaway. Instead, they maintained a strong pace throughout the stage, culminating in an aggressive approach to the final climb.

As Almeida approached the steep slopes of the Bola del Mundo, his teammate, Jay Vine, delivered a crucial acceleration. However, Almeida struggled to capitalize on this effort, ultimately crossing the finish line in fifth place, 22 seconds behind Vingegaard, who launched a decisive attack in the final kilometer.

The conclusion of the Vuelta brought mixed feelings for Almeida. “It was super hard, I was on the limit for the whole stage, but we had to try; we had nothing to lose,” he stated. “We went all out for it, we tried, and we gave it everything, but Jonas was stronger.” Despite the disappointing finish, Almeida noted that this was his best result in a Grand Tour, building on his third-place finish and Best Young Rider achievement at the 2023 Giro d’Italia.

This year has been a significant one for Almeida, marked by victories at Itzulia Basque Country, Tour de Romandie, and Tour de Suisse. His only major setback came during the Tour de France, where he crashed in the first week. Returning to the Vuelta, where he had previously abandoned in 2024 due to COVID-19, Almeida demonstrated resilience and determination by challenging Vingegaard throughout the event.

“Unfortunately, I’ve been sick this week, with flu and a sore throat, although that’s the same for a lot of guys in the peloton,” Almeida noted. He maintained a positive outlook, emphasizing the importance of his efforts. “What matters is that we tried, so I have no regrets. I just have to keep pushing forwards.”

UAE Team Emirates also celebrated a successful campaign, claiming an impressive seven stage wins throughout the race, including one by Almeida on the prestigious Angliru climb. The team also secured the King of the Mountains and Teams prizes, marking a strong overall performance.

As the Vuelta concluded with the final podium presentation in Cibeles, Madrid, Almeida recognized his position as a significant milestone in his career. “My congrats to Jonas,” he concluded, acknowledging his rival’s strength. “Being second behind him—that’s not so bad.”

With this achievement, Almeida looks ahead to future competitions, aiming to build on his success and continue his upward trajectory in professional cycling.