João Almeida rode his way to victory in the Tour de Romandie, a grueling WorldTour competition that pushed riders to their limits in the Swiss roads. The 26-year-old Portuguese cyclist finished second in the final individual time trial, just 11 seconds behind world champion Remco Evenepoel, but his consistent performance throughout the week paid off.
A Winning Mindset
Almeida credited the massive support from Portuguese fans in Switzerland for giving him an extra boost. “There’s a huge Portuguese community here,” he said with a smile. “Their support was invaluable; it gave me the motivation to push through the tough moments and secure the win.” His UAE Emirates team played a crucial role, providing unwavering backing as he navigated the challenging terrain.
The final time trial was decisive, with Almeida outperforming his closest rivals, Lorenzo Fortunato and Lenny Martinez, to claim the top spot. “I was confident in my abilities,” he said. “The course was fast, with some tough climbs, but I had the legs to deliver.” Despite not winning any individual stages, Almeida’s consistency earned him the overall victory.
A Streak of Success
This win marks Almeida’s second consecutive WorldTour victory, following his triumph in the Tour of the Basque Country. He’s been on a roll this season, with several top finishes, including second-place results in the Volta à Comunidade Valenciana and Volta ao Algarve. “I’ve had some great moments this season,” he reflected. “Some wins, some close calls. I’ve always given it my all, and I’m happy with my performance so far.”
With five WorldTour wins this season, Almeida is building momentum ahead of the Tour de Suisse on June 15 and the Tour de France on July 5. After a well-deserved break, he’ll be back on the bike, ready to take on the toughest challenges in the cycling calendar.
The moment victory was confirmed at the #TDR2025 🤩🇨🇭
Time to celebrate with the family, both Almeida and UAE Team Emirates-XRG 💛 #WeAreUAE pic.twitter.com/4BHARTJRI3
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) May 4, 2025
Celui qui remporte le Tour de Romandie 2025: Joao Almeida🥇✨️ @TeamEmiratesUAE #tdr #tdrnonstop #tdr2025 pic.twitter.com/e1mApxcHUQ
— Tour de Romandie (@TourDeRomandie) May 4, 2025
Remco Evenepoel @soudalquickstep remporte le chrono final et le Portugais Joao Almeida @TeamEmiratesUAE le classement général d’un TDR qui a tenu en haleine toute la semaine.
Au général, Lenny Martinez @BHRVictorious est 2e et meilleur jeune, Jay Vine 3e @TeamEmiratesUAE et… pic.twitter.com/o5MfRJDUM5— Tour de Romandie (@TourDeRomandie) May 4, 2025