Around this time about a year ago with Fabio Baldato, sport director of the UAE Emirates, we talked about Joao almeida al Giro d'Italia. At the time, the Portuguese athlete had just joined the Asian team. And the two barely knew each other.
Joao wanted to do well at the Giro, and the team immediately handed him the captaincy. He kept his promises to the letter, at least until Covid intervened. Now Almeida wants to return to the Giro, according to his statements. Will he be a protagonist again? Baldato himself tells us.
Fabio, a year has passed and here we are again: Almeida at the Giro…
It seems so. It's not official yet, mind you. Matxin e Gianetti they are drawing up the program. However, I know from his own words that he is happy to do the Giro. We still need to establish the schedules for all the riders, including where to deploy them. In December, when we meet again at the training camp, everything will be more precise.
Let's start with Joao's last Giro d'Italia. Covid is fine, but how do you rate his Giro so far?
The Giro had been deliberately run in a wait-and-see manner, Precisely because I knew how difficult the last four or five days had been. But then he felt bad. And he felt bad on the very stage where we were thinking of starting to attack. And climbing up the standings.
Are you referring to the hamlet of Lavarone?
Yes, that one. A stage that I knew very well, especially the finale. That climb, The Menador, I even did it in training. But then we realized after the stage that something wasn't right. Or rather, at the foot of the climb. Up until that day, Joao hadn't said anything, but before the climb he had asked for all possible support from his companions and the flagship by radio. He wasn't feeling his best. And in fact there was Covi who was in front on the previous climb and we kept him with him. Then we know how it went.
A day or two later, Covid arrived and goodbye to the Giro…
Up until then the team and Almeida had run very well. We had sought the stage victory with Covi, Formolo, Rui Costa… but always with one eye on Almeida. There was always someone waiting for orders before moving: whether in front or behind. I'm thinking for example of Diego Ulissi, Which was exceptional. I think it was the Giro where he was strongest. Maybe it wasn't obvious, but he did a great job. On the climbs, he was left with 15 riders. Even less.
You said that in your plans, Lavarone was supposed to mark the start of the comeback. We don't know how much you planned to gain, but Almeida still had the Marmolada at stake, and the Verona time trial was perhaps a bit too short to close the gap entirely...
Not to be presumptuous, but based on our data, the expectation was to attack even on the climbs. We saw Almeida at Catalunya, for example, winning on climbs and dropping important riders. When he's in good shape, he doesn't defend himself, he just goes uphill. In a major Giro, the remaining energy also counts in the third week, and a rider who had been riding on the defensive up until then could transform into an attacker. Maybe our tactics were wrong. Because, as you said, the time trial was too short to change the outcome of the Giro.
What's this guy missing right now? What can he still improve on?
Let's remember he's only 24. The problem is that nowadays we've gotten used to seeing 22- and 23-year-old riders win Grand Tours and other important races. Perhaps Joao lacks a bit of grit. That never hurts: from sprinter to Grand Tour man.
He has time on his side…
Little by little, he gained experience. From his years at Quick Step, especially when he wore the pink jersey, to being a leader with us. The ability to manage a group, to be a rider who inspires confidence in his teammates. And this will be a further step in his growth towards the Grand Tours.
Fabio, you touched on an interesting point: leadership... At the Vuelta he started as the leader, but Ayuso made his way over... Does this put him in perspective? Does it raise any doubts?
I don't know. Among other things, at Return I wasn't even there. From what I know, there was a great atmosphere in the team. They helped each other a lot, but the day they caused trouble... Carlos Rodriguez there was an alliance between Almeida and Ayuso. I don't see this rivalry.
More than rivalry, we were talking about believing in one's own abilities...
For me, no, the fact that Ayuso went faster doesn't undermine his certainties. When Joao understands that he is not at his best, he is the first to say so and to make himself available. And the beauty is having a rider like that. At the Giro di Lombardia for example I had to say who worked first and who worked after to bring pogacar in the best possible conditions at the end. And he told me: “Fabio, I'm here to help and I do what I have to do.” Even though I'm coming off a top ten finish at the Vuelta… No, I don't believe in the woodworm, in fact I think this gives him more motivation. And among the captains, he's one of the easiest to manage. He has character. He's not one to submit, but he has the pride of a champion with a capital "C."
Knowing him, with 70+ kilometers of time trialing at the Giro, he's pumped for you, he's already doing his sums...
Maybe yes, but let's consider the two time trials, the third (the one on Lussari, ed.) is special. Let's say he has at least 50 kilometers against the clock where he can gain an advantage. And, hopefully, he can also make a difference... if it's at the Giro. But let's not forget the other tough stages. The Giro is perhaps still the only race that features over 5.000 meters of elevation gain in a single stage. The Bondone stage features 5.300 meters. And the Tre Cime stage is no exception. These two stages alone can make up for the time trials.
