João Almeida, Portuguese rider from the UAE Emirates team, finished the Vuelta a España in 91st place, which represented the first time the Portuguese completed a Grand Tour outside the top 10 of the general classification. This position fell well below the expectations of the 26-year-old rider, who had aimed to fight for a place among the best.
Almeida reflected on the race with the words "we never know exactly what awaits us," suggesting he faced unexpected difficulties during the Spanish race. The Portuguese rider did not specify what problems he faced, but his performance fell well short of expectations.
This was one of the most disappointing races in Almeida's career, as he usually competes among the best in the grand tours. His final position contrasts with the results he had achieved in previous editions of the Vuelta.
