Joao Almeida is going to miss Giro d’Italia

April 28, 2026 Aksel Kryhlmand

Joao Almeida, a prominent figure in the Grand Tour peloton and one of the top two favourites for next month’s Giro d’Italia, has confirmed his withdrawal from the prestigious race, according to The Athletic. The UAE Team Emirates rider cited a prolonged period of sickness that has severely undermined his preparation, making it impossible to be ready in time for his primary seasonal objective.

A significant blow to his season

Almeida’s absence marks a considerable setback for both himself and his team. The Portuguese cyclist had earmarked the Giro d’Italia as the focal point of his 2024 campaign, a race where he has previously demonstrated his formidable capabilities. In the 2023 edition, Almeida secured an impressive third-place finish overall, in addition to claiming the young rider classification.

His consistent performance in Grand Tours extends beyond the Giro, with the 25-year-old also earning a podium spot at last year’s Vuelta a Espana. This track record had firmly established him as a leading contender for the pink jersey, making his withdrawal a significant loss for the race's competitive landscape.

Almeida’s message and future outlook

The decision to pull out was made following extensive discussions with his UAE Team Emirates squad. Almeida shared his disappointment on Instagram, explaining the rationale behind the difficult choice.

"Unfortunately I won’t be at the start of the Giro D’Italia next month as planned," Almeida wrote. "Sickness in the past months has affected my preparations too much and has meant I just won’t quite be ready in time which is a shame as it’s a race I love so much. After talking it through with the team we decided it was best to take a rest period and switch focus to new goals later in the season."

Looking ahead, Almeida confirmed that his immediate future involves a period of rest to recover fully. New objectives for the latter part of the season have not yet been determined but will be calmly assessed and set in the coming weeks. For now, the focus remains on regaining full health and slowly building back his form, with Almeida pledging to cheer on his teammates from home.

Sources: www.nytimes.com, www.instagram.com