Vitoria-Gasteiz: Joo Almeida and UAE Team Emirates-XRG made a strong start to Itzulia Basque Country on Monday afternoon, with the Portuguese rider placing second in the opening individual time trial from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Baskonia-Alav©s.
According to Emirates News Agency, it was a closely contested event in the Basque Country, with the 26-year-old Almeida posting a time of 18:37:82, finishing less than half a second behind the stage winner Maximilian Schachmann of Soudal Quick-Step. The stage 1 course spanned only 16.5 kilometers, resulting in minimal time gaps. A short ascent at Arzubiaga was followed by a flat run to the finish line in Baskonia-Alav©s, aided by a tailwind for most of the afternoon.
Almeida demonstrated impressive form by posting a negative split, increasing his speed in the second half of the course and coming very close to securing the stage victory over Schachmann. This performance sets Almeida up well for the remainder of the week, which features numerous mountain stages before concluding on Saturday.
In addition to Almeida's success, UAE Team Emirates-XRG also had other riders placing in the top 20, including Isaac del Toro, Felix Gro€¦¸schartner, and Marc Soler. The Emirati team commenced Itzulia Basque Country with a roster full of skilled riders, with Almeida, Del Toro, Soler, and Gro€¦¸schartner joined by Igor Arrieta, Brandon McNulty, and Vegard Stake Laengen for the six-day WorldTour stage race.