João Almeida: “Don’t think I can win the Giro”
Monday, October 12, 2020 at 5:42 PM
João Almeida does not assume that he can win the Giro d’Italia. However, the 22-year-old Portuguese climber from Deceuninck-Quick-Step is in the pink leader’s jersey after nine days. “I think I can hold on to the pink until the fifteenth stage, to Piancavallo,” says Almeida on the rest day.
The end of the second week is tough, the larger roundabutant knows. “Then we’ll see if I have the legs,” Almeida says. “But I don’t believe I can win the Giro. I’ve never raced for that long and there are so many guys with a lot of experience here. A bad day and everything is gone. ”
The Portuguese knows that several climbers are preying on his position. “Riders like Fuglsang, Kelderman or Nibali make a very strong impression. There are many guys who are still eligible. I am now happy with this pink sweater and I will see what the next few weeks will bring ”, says Sporza from the mouth of Almeida.
‘Winning the Giro? That would surprise me ‘
Sports director Klaas Lodewyck is also tempering expectations. “It would be foolish to say that we are going for the overall victory”, said Lodewyck. “We’ll see what is to come and we’ll make the best of it. We certainly will not put pressure on João. Everyone is sober enough for that. ”
“Hopefully he’s not having a bad day, although that can always happen. João is a special guy. Winning the Giro? That would surprise me, but of course it is allowed ”, the sports director jokes Sporza.
