To round out another year at the precipice of the men’s sport, UAE Team Emirates XRG reunited at a team camp in Calpe last week. Yet, between Tadej Pogačar’s schedule reveal and the 2026 jersey unveiling, João Almeida’s new year plans seem to have slipped through the investigative cracks.
No doubt 2026 will be a big year for João Almeida as he gears up for both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España. In securing those Grand Tour entries, he’s been chosen over up-and-comer Isaac del Toro, who the team are nurturing as the future heir to Tadej Pogačar’s throne within the superteam. Now out of the shackles of the tufty world champ, Almeida finally has a chance to stamp his own authority at a three-week race.
But in such a crowded space, does Almeida have what it takes to finally win a Grand Tour? Can he solidify his place as UAE’s number two, or will he stumble down the pecking order once the pressure piles up at next year’s Giro and Vuelta?
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Two tests of leadership
Almeida has been handed a healthy schedule from UAE’s bosses, giving him leadership roles at both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España. This will be his first shot at leading two Grand Tours during the same season since he signed up to UAE at the start of 2022.
The Giro d’Italia offers Almeida a reasonable 40km against the clock, which should play to his strengths. The lack of climbing metres as well should help to keep time gaps to a minimum, especially if Jonas Vingegaard is there for company. The pair duelled on several occasions in 2025, but at this moment, Vingegaard looks the more proven of the two, even if Almeida pinched some time back on the Angliru at last year’s Vuelta.
The parcours for next year’s Vuelta, on the other hand, is still to be revealed. Furthermore, Tadej Pogačar’s cameo is still to be decided, even if the Spanish race starts on his adopted home turf in Monaco. Chances are, he’ll sideline it as he gears up for a World Championship defence in Canada.
While Almeida’s runners-up spot at the Vuelta banished some Grand Tour woes, the Portuguese rider has a rather patchy record at Grand Tours. Out of the ten he’s taken part in, he’s only managed to make the podium twice. Another stain on his record is his propensity for DNFs. During his time at UAE, he’s abandoned three out of the seven Grand Tours he’s been sent to.
History suggests Almeida is consistent but not victorious. With the unwavering faith of the team next year though, he may finally get the chance to convert his long-awaited promise into a Grand Tour title.
The clock is ticking
Is Almeida a true Grand Tour leader or is he destined to be a super domestique like Adam Yates? Well, that seems to be the question UAE are posing in 2026.
Over the past few years, the Portuguese rider has been handed more opportunities at one-week stage races, which came to much avail in 2025 when he claimed Tour de Romandie, Tour de Suisse and Itzulia Basque Country. In 2026, however, he’s been granted an impressive spread of leadership roles, including those two Grand Tours.
It has taken some time to build the confidence of his team bosses, but now is the time to prove he was worth the wait. At 27, he should be near his best, at least from a physiological perspective. In that sense, the clock is ticking for a big victory, and not just a Mickey Mouse trophy at a week-long stage race.
If Almeida fails to prove himself as a leader next year, it’s likely his team bosses will return him to the domestique seat for future Tour de Frances. At his age, he may not be worth the effort anymore, especially when you have the 22-year-old Del Toro almost on Grand Tour-winning form. Between them, the race for the number two spot at UAE seems to be nearing a crossroad.
Outshining the competition
It’s hard to stand out at UAE. As the top-ranked team in the UCI rankings, the squad boast a fleet of top performers, from experienced talismen to foetal supertalents. Of course, Almeida sits towards the top of this pecking order, but there is some serious competition knocking at his door.
In contrast to Almeida, Isaac del Toro has been shafted somewhat by UAE Team Emirates’ Grand Tour plans. After his breakthrough performance at the 2025 Giro, the Mexican will find himself in a similar role to Almeida over the past two years as a super domestique for Pogačar.
While his 2025 was imperious, Del Toro never quite had the chance to show off his stage racing legs between the Giro and all his one-day antics later on in Italy. As such, he’ll have free rein as leader for the UAE Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico, Itzulia Basque Country and the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (formerly the Critérium du Dauphiné). These races offer him a worthy training ground to prove his worth as a leader in a one-week race, and to prove he’s a more worthy candidate for that number two spot over Almeida in 2027.
Can Almeida realistically win a Grand Tour next year?
Now that we’ve clarified the significance of these leadership roles, just how likely is a Portuguese Grand Tour victory in 2026?
With UAE’s B-team under his wing at the Giro, Almeida should relish the race’s opening week with its unipuerto profiles and sprint-friendly summit finishes. The 40km time-trial should also put him in good standing during the flat-looking second week, and he may even be in the pink jersey come the relentless final week in the Dolomites. That said, Vingegaard will be stiff competition if he does turn up to the Grande Partenza in Bulgaria next May. The Dane will go in as the out-and-out favourite. If the Vuelta demonstrated anything, it’s that the Visma leader is simply stronger on raw mountain stages.
As mentioned, the Vuelta a España is looking threadbare in terms of strong contenders. Roglič and Almeida offer similar rider profiles – although the Slovenian is long past his best at three-week races. It’s rumoured that the race will be the toughest Grand Tour of the year in terms of vertical metres, with no guarantees on long time-trials. This, in theory, shouldn’t play to Almeida’s strengths, but with little top-flight opposition, he may win by virtue of being the last man standing.
Out of the two though, the Vuelta certainly looks the more achievable. A Giro podium, on the other hand, is definitely within reach. However, given that UAE have failed to win a Grand Tour without Pogačar, any Grand Tour title would yield vindication. It would almost guarantee future leadership roles and would keep him in UAE’s good books for another year.
The final verdict
Simply put, UAE Team Emirates XRG are spoilt for choice. With three leaders vouching for Grand Tour starts, there’s a need for Almeida to prove himself before Del Toro steals the limelight. That’s if Del Toro manages to translate his 2025 form into the big leagues next year.
Luckily for Almeida, he’s safely under contract at UAE Team Emirates. He recently extended up to the end of 2028, but as Ayuso displayed in the autumn, these contracts can always be ripped apart if the offer is sufficient enough.
That said, no one is really going to give Almeida a better offer than the one he currently has at UAE. He’s been handed two Grand Tour starts, and he gets to ride for the top team in the world. Interviews suggest he gets on well with Pogačar, and he’s even gone on to extend at UAE, confirming his good relationship with the team. He’d be a fool to leave the top team in all honesty.
As the saying goes, it’s better the devil you know.
