João Almeida made a statement in the third stage of the Tour of Switzerland, finishing second and gaining six seconds on the leaders. He outpaced a group of 28 riders in the final sprint, but couldn’t catch up to Quentin Simmons, the American champion from Lidl-Trek, who took the stage win after a successful breakaway.
Almeida now sits 17th in the general classification, still 3 minutes and 17 seconds behind the leader, Romain Grégoire. The French rider, wearing the yellow jersey, finished the stage 18 seconds behind Simmons. Grégoire knows he’s got a battle ahead, saying he’s prepared for a change of pace and a tough day on Wednesday.
After the stage, Almeida talked about his tactics and how he felt during the ride. “We knew the finish was tough, but not too tough. I was feeling good, so we decided to give it a shot. Didn’t win, but got second.” He acknowledges it’s still a long way to his goal of improving on his 2024 result, but he’s taking it one step at a time.
The next stage, on Wednesday, will be a crucial test for Almeida. The 193.2-kilometer route from Heiden to Piuro includes a first-category climb, which could be a game-changer. Almeida will have to push himself to the limit to close the gap on the leaders. As he puts it, “Getting six seconds back is something, but it’s not much. We’ll keep giving it our all, and I’ve got good legs, but it’s clear it won’t be easy to get to the top spot.”
Grégoire is aware of the threats lurking behind him and is ready to defend his lead. “Tomorrow will be a different story, with a new pace and a new challenge. I expect the top riders to try and make a move, which is normal. I’ll need to be consistent, even with the last 40 kilometers being downhill.”
Key Takeaways
- João Almeida finishes second in the third stage of the Tour of Switzerland
- He gains six seconds on the leaders, but still trails by 3 minutes and 17 seconds
- Romain Grégoire remains in the yellow jersey, but expects a tough day on Wednesday
- Almeida will face a crucial test in the next stage, with a first-category climb on the agenda
The battle for the top spot is heating up, and Wednesday’s stage will be a pivotal moment in the Tour of Switzerland. Will Almeida be able to close the gap, or will Grégoire hold on to his lead? The ride is far from over.