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Can João Almeida pull on pink when it issues most?
The 2022 Giro d’Italia may very well be his greatest probability but.
Almeida leads a pack of UAE Workforce Emirates climbing expertise at subsequent month’s Giro in what will likely be his first grand tour since he left Fast-Step this winter.
The Portuguese expertise broke out with an against-all-odds 15 days within the maglia rosa in 2020 earlier than flaming out on the final second to complete fourth.
After proving he was no one-hit-wonder with a trip to sixth in final yr’s Giro, Almeida is again for extra.
“This can be a particular race for me, I’ve nice reminiscences right here and I’m excited to return again along with an important workforce in search of some good outcomes collectively,” he mentioned.
Additionally learn:
Almeida heads up a UAE Workforce Emirates Giro squad that brings firepower and expertise.
Fernando Gaviria will scrap for dash phases with longtime leadout man Max Richeze.
Diego Ulissi, Rui Costa, Davide Formolo, and Alessandro Covi deliver additional attacking risk and assist for Almeida within the mountains. Rui Oliveira completes the eight.
“We’re excited to be coming into the Giro with a robust workforce. Almeida will likely be our man for the overall classification and I feel we’ve a workforce greater than able to supporting him,” mentioned sport director Fabio Baldato.
Almeida’s greatest probability but?
This yr’s Giro may very well be 23-year-old Almeida’s large probability to verify his potential.
A breakout two weeks at his debut Corsa Rosa in 2020 put the Portuguese expertise on the grand tour map, ending fourth after clinging tight to a pink jersey few anticipated him to ever personal.
He returned to the Italian tour final yr as a part of a Fast-Step workforce that originally clustered round Remco Evenepoel. Almeida gave Evenepoel his wheel for greater than two weeks however was left pole-axed when the younger Belgian deserted simply three days from the ultimate.
With a pack of climbing stars by his facet and a string of three GC top-10s this season, Almeida will likely be considered one of many elbowing alongside standout riders Richard Carapaz and Simon Yates in a wide-open version of the Giro.
“The preparation for the Giro has gone very well,” he mentioned. “Since my final race I’ve been coaching at altitude in Sierra Nevada, Spain with a few of my teammates and we’ve a superb group assembled.
“Clearly my purpose is to do GC, however we even have Fernando for the sprints and plenty of guys who’ve gained right here on the Giro earlier than. We will’t wait to get it began.”
The one factor that Almeida could also be much less enthusiastic about is the relative lack of TT kilometers on this yr’s race.
Almeida’s time trial skills sometimes financial institution him seconds over pure-climber classification rivals when he races towards the clock. Simply 26km of time trialing at this yr’s Giro will see Almeida lose an ace from his sleeve – so he’ll should work all of the tougher within the mountains.
Gaviria goes up towards a number of the world’s quickest
And Gaviria?
The Colombian speedster contracted COVID for a 3rd – sure, third – time this winter however doesn’t look any the slower for it.
Two victories and 5 extra top-6 finishes to this point this season put Gaviria in place to scrap for a sixth Giro stage win subsequent month.
Gaviria and long-time leadout man Richeze could have a stacked dash area to combat.
Mark Cavendish, Caleb Ewan, Biniam Girmay, and Giacomo Nizzolo will all be within the body for as much as seven dash alternatives earlier than the Giro’s mountainous closing week.
“Gaviria can also be again from damage and is wanting good once more so we’ll have that card to play within the dash phases,” sport director Baldato mentioned. “We have now large expertise amongst our line-up and we’re motivated for what we hope will likely be a gorgeous race.”
UAE Emirates Giro d’Italia workforce
- João Almeida
- Fernando Gaviria
- Rui Costa
- Alessandro Covi
- Davide Formolo
- Diego Ulissi
- Rui Oliveira
- Max Richeze
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