'I feel I wouldn't be ready' – Tadej Pogačar likely to be without João Almeida as super domestique for upcoming Tour de France despite recent recovery

João Almeida is set to miss the upcoming Tour de France as a key support rider for Tadej Pogačar, despite recently recovering from an illness that forced him to withdraw from the Giro d’Italia. Speaking to Portuguese media, Almeida acknowledged that although he has resumed racing, he does not feel physically prepared to tackle the demanding three-week Grand Tour. His return to competition will begin at the Tour-Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where he aims to rebuild his form and assist teammate Isaac del Toro, rather than use it as preparation for the Tour. Almeida’s absence represents a significant loss for Pogačar, who benefited from the Portuguese rider’s strong domestique role in last year’s Tour, where Almeida finished fourth overall. The decision to skip the Tour reflects Almeida’s realistic assessment of his condition following a prolonged period of illness and disrupted training. He emphasised the importance of being in peak shape to perform at the highest level, whether targeting results or supporting team leaders, and indicated that he is focusing instead on the Vuelta a España, where he hopes to contend for the overall victory. The illness that sidelined Almeida remains somewhat mysterious, with blood tests showing abnormalities but no definitive diagnosis. After initially resting post-Volta a Catalunya, Almeida struggled to regain fitness in time for the Giro, eventually opting to prioritise recovery and allow other teammates to pursue success. He has since resumed training and is cautiously optimistic about his progress, though he is not rushing his return to full racing intensity. Looking ahead, Almeida has outlined a clear racing schedule for the remainder of the season, including the Clásica San Sebastián, Vuelta a Burgos, the Vuelta a España, and the Road World Championships in Canada. His ambition remains high, with a top-five finish no longer sufficient motivation, signalling his intent to challenge for major honours once fully recovered. Meanwhile, Pogačar will need to adapt his Tour de France strategy without Almeida’s proven support, potentially reshaping the dynamics of his UAE Team Emirates squad.