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The Portuguese rider maintained the lead of the Giro individual overall and is preparing for a “difficult” stage on Thursday.
Portuguese João Almeida (Deceuninck-Quick Step) said on Wednesday that he expects a “very tough day” and several attacks on his leadership of the general of the Volta to Italy by bicycle in the 12th stage, on Thursday.
“They will try anything, on a day with many ups and downs. We will see how the legs will be. I think they will not attack on the last climb, it will be earlier. It will be a test of strength,” he said, questioned by journalists about the difficulties of the 12th stage.
10 stages from the end of the 103rd edition, the 22-year-old, born in Caldas da Rainha, says “defending the shirt” and not attacking the favorites, like on Tuesday, and even there, he said, he went to Ahead ” because of Bilbao “, referring to the Spanish Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-McLaren), third overall, who was then isolated.
In a day in which the French Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) won the sprint, the race did not change the first places of the general, with Almeida, after cutting the goal in position 22, staying in the lead, with 34 seconds left ahead for the runner-up, the Dutch Wilco Kelderman (Sunweb), and 43 for Bilbao in third place.
“I feel good and have really enjoyed it. Hearing all the congratulations and talking about my name gives me a lot of motivation,” said the young rider, who makes his grand tour debut in the first year of WorldTour.
Still in the “ups and downs” on Thursday, he left a warning regarding the remaining favorites. “If someone attacks, everyone has to chase, it’s not just me who wants to win,” he shot.
On Thursday the 12th stage begins and ends in Cesenatico, with 204 kilometers and five mountain counts, three in the third and two in the fourth category.
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