Almeida, UAE's 'Plan B' for the Vuelta

UAE Team Emirates-XRG may not arrive at the Vuelta a España with just one rider in the overall standings. While Tadej Pogačar obviously remains the team's guiding light for the overall standings, his Portuguese teammate João Almeida isn't closing the door on a possible "Plan B" role, although he admits that everything will depend on his feelings in the first stages.

"It just depends on my legs. I'll see how it goes in the first few days and then we'll see," Almeida told Cyclingnews during the team presentation in Monaco. A statement that opens up interesting scenarios for those who play fantasy cycling: an in-form Almeida could be a valuable asset, capable of acting both as a luxury domestique and a real threat for the overall.

The 28-year-old's preparation for this Vuelta hasn't been the easiest. A crash at the Tour of Poland abruptly ended his final run in preparation for the Spanish Grand Boucle, the latest chapter in a complicated season marked by health issues in the spring and a difficult Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where he only rode six stages before retiring again.

On the other hand, it shouldn't be forgotten that Almeida was the man who most posed a challenge to last year's winner, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), finishing second in the overall standings and taking a spectacular stage victory on the Angliru. His palmarès also includes a third place at the Giro d'Italia and a fourth at the Grande Boucle, but it was precisely at the 2025 Vuelta that he achieved his best career result in a three-week stage race.

"It's a race where I've been good in the past, but the past doesn't give us any guarantees," Almeida explained. "I have good memories tied to this race, but in the end, all that matters is your condition at the time. I hope my legs aren't that bad." This is an aspect to carefully monitor for those making their own training decisions: Almeida's history at the Vuelta speaks for itself, but his on-and-off season warrants caution.

The starting point: the Monaco time trial

The first test for the top riders in the general classification will be the 9-kilometer technical time trial on the streets of the Principality, scheduled for Saturday. According to Almeida, however, the resulting gaps will be minimal, and the most important thing will be to maintain a long-term vision and avoid unnecessary risks.

"You learn something, but not much, honestly. It's a technical test, so the risks you take can affect the outcome," said the Portuguese. "And I don't think it's worth risking too much. These nine kilometers won't decide anything in terms of gaps."

"These days, there's nothing to gain and everything to lose. It's just a matter of putting in the effort, controlling what you can control, crossing the finish line safely, and that's it."

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