The Portuguese has the dream of the rose and the podium is increasingly a reality – Observer

10/19/2020 World



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Rivolto Air Base, the starting point of the 15th stage that ended the second week of the Giro before the second and last rest day, was the ideal setting for a presentation by the Italian Air Force in an atmosphere of great celebration in the antechamber of the start of another 185-kilometer race with features to scramble the top spots taking into account the arrival to go up to Piancavallo. João Almeida, of course, was one of the main focuses of the squad, not only because of the leadership for 12 consecutive days but also because of the way he won some time before the main opponents. What appeared to be just a great day continued. What seemed to be just a dream began to touch reality.

A-dos-Francos has become a pink-painted parish and everything counts when the goal is to support the local prodigal son from a distance. The closest family, this one, has been in Italy for a few days to follow their son more closely, something that even the frustration of not being able to hug Deceuninck’s Quick-Step runner can cool. “I have no words to describe the moments that João is giving us. Seeing him in newspaper photographs, hearing about him on the radio and continuing to see him on television is a great pride. He was always a good son. He had a normal school life with many friends, which he still wants to support. When he started running seriously, he went to Cartaxo, dreaming of one day running where he is. And after two stages he ended up going. Sometimes I even tell you ‘You must have a star that illuminates you, for having the right people on your path and in your life, ”his mother, Patrícia Almeida, told the newspaper A Bola after Saturday’s time trial.

Filippo Ganna, world champion of the specialty, did not give the competition a chance again (and gave more joy to an Ineos team that lost Thomas early but has excelled in the fight of the stages), Brandon McNulty took a great leap in the classification but it was again João Almeida coming out as the main highlight, winning a few more seconds to the Dutch Wilco Kelderman (now there are 56) and leaving the rest of the Pello Bilbao candidates behind for more than two minutes, who gave more and more different possibilities to control possible attacks that would be the goal this Sunday. All, remember, in the initial time trial he covered more than 30 kilometers in his career, which further amplifies the result achieved between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. Even Alberto Contador, a Spaniard who won two Giros (and two Tours and three Laps) was impressed in the comments.

João Almeida in great shape: he makes six in the time trial, maintains the leadership and still wins more time for the competition

“I was ready to have a good race, being sixth or tenth doesn’t matter. It was about buying time for the opponents and that was achieved. Ganna and Dennis managed to be better because they are experts, but I am satisfied with the result. I knew the route well, as well as the most demanding parts, the sensations were good and the weather satisfied me. The road to Milan [onde termina a Volta a Itália] It is long, there is still a lot of mountains and it is difficult. I know that one bad day can ruin everything; today [sábado] It was better than I expected ”, he commented after sixth place on the 14th stage, in what was the fifth round in which he finished in the first six of the four podiums. The mountain followed, with four counts, especially the last one that coincided with the 14.3 kilometer goal with an average slope percentage of 7.8.

With Rúben Guerreiro still trying to touch the fugitive group but moving away from the early decisions, this last climb was decisive in relation to the stage, because some of the first classified took off with each attack. Pello Bilbao, Fuglsang, Nibali. All but João Almeida and Kelderman, who continued without leaving until Team Sunweb made the last attack that left the Portuguese completely alone, with no teammates to defend, trying to keep up without losing sight of the Dutch and Hindley who allowed this. attack. At 4.5 kilometers, the Portuguese lost 20 seconds, almost what he had won the day before in Kelderman’s time trial, but I could take everything, at the limit of effort, with my tongue out, with a huge heart almost to feel the support of thousands and thousands of Portuguese.

At two kilometers, the delay had already passed to 33 seconds, that is, only 23 seconds more than the Dutchman. He held on, with no one from Deceuninck Quick-Step around, losing a big margin but staying in the lead for the thirteenth day in a row. And the Portuguese not only reaches the third week still in pink, but the dream of finishing on the podium (at least) is increasingly real: if Kelderman closed the second stage two seconds behind Geoghegan Hart, who gave him another victory to Ineos. , the 35 second delay that added six more bonuses kept Almeida in the lead 15 seconds ahead in relation to the Dutch and with almost three or more minutes of advance of the most direct pursuers, cases of Hindley (2.56), Hart (2.57), Pello Bilbao (3.10), Majka (3.18), Nibali (3.29) or Pozzovivo (3.50 ).

“I am certainly very happy. I am very grateful to my team for their work. Today I felt good but there were stronger riders and I have to congratulate them. During the first kilometers I thought I could face them, but then I had to go to the limit, it was a pain until the end. Why did I quit the radio? I took it off because I was too focused, I gave everything to keep the pink shirt, “said the Portuguese.



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