João Almeida came agonizingly close to snatching victory in a dramatic opening stage of the Itzulia Basque Country, delivering a powerhouse performance that has set the tone for a fiery week ahead.
The Portuguese star of UAE Team Emirates-XRG clocked a blistering 18:37:82 in the 16.5km individual time trial from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Baskonia-Alavés, falling short of stage winner Maximilian Schachmann (Soudal Quick-Step) by just half a second—a margin so slim, it could’ve been a blink in the wind.
With a short uphill kicker at Arzubiaga followed by a flat, tailwind-assisted run to the line, it was a course that rewarded all-out aggression. Almeida didn’t disappoint. Riding a negative split, he scorched the second half of the course and came within a whisker of stealing the show.
While the stage didn’t shake up the leaderboard dramatically due to its short profile, Almeida’s storming ride has put him firmly in the spotlight as the race heads for the hills. With high mountain stages looming, the 26-year-old climbing ace is poised to be a serious GC contender.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG also flexed their depth, placing four riders in the top 20, including Isaac del Toro, Felix Großschartner, and Marc Soler. Backed by a stacked squad featuring Brandon McNulty, Igor Arrieta, and Vegard Stake Laengen, the Emirati team is clearly here to dominate.
If stage one was this tight, the rest of the week promises fireworks. Can Almeida turn that sliver of a loss into a mountain-top triumph? Stay tuned.
