Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Thursday, November 20, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes. - John Wooden
Bill & Carol McGann’s book The Story of the 2024 Tour de France: The Happy Warrior Triumphs is available print, Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the link on the right.
Upcoming racing:
- December 14: World Cup Namur
- December 23: Superprestige Heusden-Zolder
- December 26: World Cup Gavere
- December 29: Trofee Loenhout-Azencross
- December 30: Superprestige Diegem
- January 1: GP Sven Nys
Latest completed racing:
- November 16: Trofee Hamme-Flandriencross
- November 1: Trofee Oudenaarde-Koppenbergcross
- October 26: Superprestige Overijse-Vlaamse Druivencross
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Guangxi
- October 14 - 19: Tour of Holland
- October 19: Veneto Classic
- October 19: Japan Cup
- October 19: Chrono des Nations
- October 15: Giro del Veneto
- October 12: Paris-Tours
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Here’s the team’s announcement:
UAE Team Emirates–XRG is delighted to announce the contract renewal of João Almeida, who has extended his stay with the team until the end of 2028.
The Portuguese climber and Grand Tour contender joined the Emirati setup in 2022 and has since become a cornerstone of the team’s success, with standout performances across multiple seasons, including stage victories and podium finishes at both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España, and a memorable stage win atop the Angliru earlier this year.
He has also played a key role in the Tour de France squad, helping the team to overall success in 2024 and 2025.
João Almeida wins stage 4 of the 2025 Paris-Nice. Sirotti photo. That's Jonas Vingegaard with his head down behind him.
Almeida’s 2025 campaign was his best to date, with the 27-year-old taking overall victories at Itzulia Basque Country, the Tour de Romandie and the Tour de Suisse, the latter of which saw him pick off three stage victories along the way.
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As his year drew towards its close, Almeida led the UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad that claimed a historic tally of seven stage wins at the Vuelta a España. There, he rode to second place in the general classification, marking his best Grand Tour finish to date.
Almeida’s consistency, intelligence, and resilience have established him among the most reliable GC riders in the peloton, and his extension underscores both his commitment to the team’s long-term ambitions and UAE Team Emirates–XRG’s belief in his continued growth.
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João Almeida: “I’m really happy to be continuing my journey with UAE Team Emirates–XRG. From the very beginning, I’ve felt at home here – the environment, the professionalism, and the trust the team has given me have all helped me become a better rider.
“Over the past few seasons, we’ve achieved some big results together, but I still feel there’s a lot more to come."
“Extending my contract gives me the confidence and stability to keep building toward those goals. I have great teammates and staff around me, and I’m really motivated for what lies ahead. Together, I’m sure we can keep fighting for victories in the biggest races in the world.”
Almeida will now continue to spearhead UAE Team Emirates–XRG’s GC ambitions across Grand Tours and stage races as the team builds toward another ambitious campaign in 2026 and beyond.
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