'I just won't quite be ready' – João Almeida ruled out of Giro d'Italia

João Almeida, one of the leading contenders for the upcoming Giro d’Italia, has announced that he will not participate in the race due to illness that has severely disrupted his preparation. The 27-year-old Portuguese rider revealed on social media that sickness over recent months has left him insufficiently ready to compete, despite his strong affection for the event. After consultation with his UAE Team Emirates squad, Almeida decided to prioritise rest and shift his focus to other objectives later in the season. Almeida’s health issues had been apparent in recent weeks, with the rider admitting to feeling unwell and undergoing blood tests following a subdued performance at the Volta a Catalunya. This setback has prevented him from building the form needed to challenge for the Giro, where he has previously excelled, including a podium finish and a stage win in 2023. His breakthrough moment came in the 2020 edition, when he impressively wore the maglia rosa for nearly two weeks despite being a relative newcomer to Grand Tour racing. The absence of Almeida represents a significant blow to UAE Team Emirates’ ambitions in the Giro, where he was expected to mount a serious challenge to the likes of Jonas Vingegaard, who defeated him in last year’s Vuelta a España. With Almeida sidelined, the team will instead rely on Adam Yates and Jay Vine to lead their campaign, while a replacement rider has yet to be confirmed. Almeida himself has not yet outlined his revised goals for the season but has indicated that a return to the Tour de France to support Tadej Pogačar remains a possibility. Looking ahead, Almeida emphasised the need to recover fully before setting new targets, stating that the plan is to rebuild gradually over the coming weeks. His withdrawal from the Giro underscores the unpredictable nature of professional cycling, where physical setbacks can abruptly alter the course of a season. Fans and team management alike will be watching closely to see how Almeida rebounds from this interruption and what role he will play in the remainder of the 2024 racing calendar.