João Almeida is destined to become a luxury servant of Remco Evenepoel at Deceuninck-Quick-Step. But behold, now that the Flemish-Brabanter had to give up for the Giro d’Italia, the young Portuguese is taking over his role – for the time being. “If he develops further in this way, he won’t have to follow Remco’s trajectory,” says Lefevere.
It is 21 February, at the start of the third stage of the Volta ao Algarve, when we talk with Patrick Lefevere about that young Portuguese who had assisted Remco Evenepoel for a very long time on his way to victory at the Alto da Fóia. “We’ve been following him for a few years now,” said the Deceuninck-Quick-Step manager. “Over the past two years, he has developed with Axel Merckx’s team (Hagens Berman Axeon, ed.). In 2018 he did very well, but last year he was disappointing. ”
“We could wait another year, but his manager – he even has two – thought otherwise. I didn’t want to settle him for that one bad year either, so I gave him a contract for two years anyway. Yesterday (on the Alta da Fóia) he was strongly employed by Remco, but he can do much more than you have already seen. He also has a good time trial in the legs ”, Lefevere already said.
Personal ambitions
“We are working on a team around Evenepoel. The Giro (then still planned in May, ed.) Will come a bit too early, although it is already performing above expectations. Although I want to be careful, because Almeida is Portuguese and this is the Tour of the Algarve. That of course gives extra motivation, and we shouldn’t forget that either. “
But João Almeida continued to do well. After he already finished second in the youth classification in the Algarve, he did that again after the corona break in Burgos (each time after Evenepoel) and he was the best youngster in the Tour de l’Ain. And in the absence of Evenepoel, the climber who turned 22 in August seizes his chance in the Tour of Italy. He is the youngest rider in 41 years who managed to ride in pink for four days.
To the extent that the question arises whether Almeida is not too good to lose out for Evenepoel in the future. In a conversation with Het Laatste Nieuws, Lefevere keeps going for a while. And leave the options open. “We still don’t know what his ultimate potential is,” he says. “And we don’t know his personal ambitions. He was in the squad around Remco, but it is not necessary for him to stay there. If he develops further in this way, he does not have to follow that process. ”
–
