João Almeida expresses great joy following his victory in the Volta à Romandia.
Reborn in the Alps: João Almeida's Triumph at Volta à Romandia
"Absolutely thrilled with the victory! I may not have triumphed in any stages, but I was always a force to be reckoned with. My team and I can be proud of our performance, no doubts about it," a gleaming João Almeida shared with the media just moments after climbing onto the podium.
In the Swiss capital of Geneva, Almeida tackled the 17.1km race in 20.45 minutes, coming in second only to Remco Evenepoel, an Olympic champion in the discipline, who took the win in a breathtaking 20.33.
Alberto Bettiol, Italian rider from Astana, claimed third place, trailing Almeida by a mere 18 seconds. The Portuguese cyclist entered the general classification with a 26-second advantage over Lenny Martinez from Bahrain-Victorious and 41 seconds over his teammate, Jay Vine.
Facing a challenging week that didn't yield any stage wins, Almeida remained steady and determined, improving his position in the general classification time and time again, securing his victory with a hard-fought second place in the demanding Thyon 2000 ascent the day before.
"It was the day I had been waiting for. To be honest, I struggled throughout most of the race, my energy levels weren't at the optimum. But I dug deep, gave everything I had, and never gave up. Sometimes, it's all about mindset," he mused.
Securing this win is a significant milestone for Almeida, joining the ranks of elite cyclists who have clinched two consecutive WorldTour races in recent years, such as teammate Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Primoz Roglic.
Reflecting on his previous attempts, Almeida acknowledged, "I've always given my best, but sometimes I lacked a bit of luck, or someone else was simply stronger. I've been second several times, but this year has been exceptionally favorable for me."
Recent health issues had stolen away opportunities, such as a missed podium finish at the Giro d'Italia due to COVID-19. However, spurred on by the "massive Portuguese community" in Switzerland, Almeida claimed a new victory before the holidays and before embarking on the Tour de Suisse.
Following his triumph at the Volta ao País Basco in April, Almeida added another WorldTour race victory to his name. The 26-year-old cyclist from A-dos-Francos (Caldas da Rainha) has now won a total of 18 races throughout his professional career, including the Itzulia Basque Country of this year and the Volta ao Luxemburgo and Volta à Polónia, both in 2021.
Up next on Almeida's agenda is the Volta à Suíça in June, followed by the Tour de France. With two consecutive wins under his belt, Almeida is now champion of two of the seven major stage races on the world cycling calendar, including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and Vuelta a España, as well as Paris-Nice, Tirreno-Adriático, Volta a Catalunya, Critérium du Dauphiné, and the Tour de Suisse.
Widely recognized for his climbing prowess and stage race consistency, Almeida has showcased his versatility this year, earning victories and stage wins while demonstrating a more attacking cyclist persona. This aggressive style was on full display during his triumph at the 2023 Giro d'Italia and his two victories at the 2022 Tour de Suisse.
Back Story:
Among the peloton, João Almeida is no stranger to success. Having claimed the overall victory at the 2025 Itzulia Basque Country, this tournament marked his most significant career victory to date. This win further bolstered UAE Team Emirates' dominance in the 2025 season, boasting a total of 27 victories across various races[1][3].
Almeida's career highlights include 17 professional victories and an impressive 11 World Tour triumphs (as of April 2025)[2]. Notably, the Portuguese rider has notched stage wins at the Giro d'Italia, although the specific stages are not extensively detailed in the sources[2].
His recent performances include a close second place in the Tour de Romandie 2025 Queen stage sprint, highlighting his current form leading up to upcoming Grand Tours[5].
"João Almeida, the Portuguese cyclist from A-dos-Francos, aims to continue his winning streak in the upcoming Volta à Suíça and Tour de France, following his consecutive triumphs at the Volta ao País Basco and Volta à Romandia. Although Almeida missed a podium finish at the Giro d'Italia due to COVID-19, he has clinched 11 WorldTour victories, including stage wins at the Giro d'Italia, and a total of 17 professional victories. His participation in the Olympic sport of cycling has earned him recognition as a force to be reckoned with, much like his teammate, Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel."
"Evenepoel, Olympic champion and fellow cyclist, managed to outpace Almeida in the Volta à Romandia, with a time difference of merely 10 seconds, demonstrating the high caliber of competition in the UAE team. Other notable competitors in the sport, such as Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Primoz Roglic have also clinched multiple WorldTour races in recent years."
"Off the racetrack, Almeida's success can be attributed to his determination and resilience, evident in his performance at the Volta à Romandia, where he secured his second place finish despite struggling with energy levels during the race. This mindset, combined with his climbing prowess and versatility, has made him a strong contender in grand tours like the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia."
