João Almeida confessed this Sunday that it was “very special” to get on the Giro podium with Primoz Roglic and Geraint Thomas, “two of the best riders in history”, promising to continue working to bring “more good moments to Portuguese cycling”. .
“I feel very happy, very satisfied, it is very special. Finally… I was able to cross the finish line today, without bad luck, and I’m very happy,” said the 24-year-old cyclist from the United Arab Emirates. to the Portuguese agency, moments after becoming the first Portuguese to finish the Tour of Italy on the podium.
By phone from Rome, after the protocol ceremony, João Almeida said that it was “very special” to be third overall behind two renowned cyclists in the peloton, because “Geraint Thomas and Primoz Roglic are two of the best cyclists of history”. , they have already been winners of great tours ”, he pointed out in reference to the 2018 Tour conquered by the Briton and the three Vueltas that the Slovenian won before this Giro.
“It is a very special feeling and it is very important to me,” he reinforced, to Lusa.
Almeida crossed the finish line at the end of the 126 kilometers of the 21st stage, starting and finishing in Rome, forming part of the peloton led by the British Mark Cavendish (Astana), and saw his third place confirmed in the final, in a 106th edition of the ‘corsa rosa’ won by the Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), who left the British Geraint Thomas (INEOS) second, at 14 seconds, and the Portuguese at 01.15 minutes.
The 24-year-old cyclist, who also won the youth classification, is the first Portuguese rider to ‘close’ the Giro on the podium and the second Portuguese rider to be in the top three in a major Tour, after Joaquim Agostinho was third in the 1978 and 1979 editions of the Tour de France and second in the 1974 Tour.
Almeida also wanted to leave “a message of thanks” to the Portuguese fans, because they always believed in him.
“They were there through thick and thin, which are part of cycling. I will continue working hard to bring more good times to Portuguese cycling. And do it to the best of my ability, ”he completed.
Asked if he is experiencing the happiest moment of his career today, the cyclist from A-dos-Francos hesitated, but was clear: “I would say yes. It is a goal accomplished, accomplished, the next one will come.”
Source: TSF
