João Almeida dominated the Tour de Suisse and is heading to the Tour de France

There are only a few days left until the start of the Tour de France. One of the favourites for the La Grande Boucle will be João Almeida, who recently dominated the Tour de Suisse, a stage race on the UCI WorldTour calendar. For the Portuguese rider, it was his fourth overall victory in a race of this level. His first came four years ago at the Tour de Pologne.

Each edition of the Tour de Pologne proves that it is a race for both big stars and emerging talents. Every year, top riders from UCI WorldTeams fight for the general classification. It was no different four years ago, when Portuguese rider João Almeida from Deceuninck–Quick-Step (now racing for UAE Team Emirates) claimed victory.

He beat Matej Mohorič and Michał Kwiatkowski in the overall standings and also won two individual stages on Polish roads. These were his first victories not only in a race of this level, but also on the international stage.

Since then, João Almeida has proven to be one of the best cyclists in the world. In 2022, he joined UAE Team Emirates, where he competes for wins in the biggest races and supports the phenomenal Tadej Pogačar. Recently, he added several more valuable wins to his palmarès.

As he prepares for the Tour de France, the Portuguese rider was unbeatable at the Tour de Suisse, which, like the Tour de Pologne, is part of the UCI WorldTour. Almeida not only won the general classification but also took three stage victories and finished second on two others. This showed his exceptional form, which he will aim to maintain during the Tour de France.

The main favourites for the French race will be the aforementioned Tadej Pogačar, Almeida’s teammate at UAE Team Emirates, as well as Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel – both former winners of the general classification at the Tour de Pologne. That’s why it’s worth following UCI World Tour races, especially those held on Polish roads.

The 82nd Tour de Pologne will take place from August 4 to 10. The battle between the world’s top riders will begin in Wrocław and conclude near the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine. The race will be broadcast on TVP Sport, Eurosport and the MAX streaming platform, reaching fans in 65 countries.