UAE gives Almeida an extra dose of confidence, with the Portuguese warning the competition: "A lot more to come"

UAE Emirates-XRG had a record-breaking season, yet things did not always go smoothly for the Emirates team. The exit of Juan Ayuso, who signed a contract with Lidl-Trek, and his Vuelta performance caused quite a commotion. Calm has returned after the season and the team is celebrating that with a contract extension for João Almeida.

The 27-year-old Portuguese joined Tadej Pogacar's team in 2022. Almeida arrived from Deceuninck-Quick Step and was considered a very talented GC-rider. In his first year with UAE, he immediately confirmed this with a fourth place in the Vuelta. In the years that followed there were several nice results in Grand Tours.

2025 was the most successful season in the Portuguese's career. With the Tour of the Basque Country, the Tour of Romandie and the Tour of Switzerland, Almeida won no less than three WorldTour-one week races. In addition, he finished second in the Vuelta, which was his best final ranking in a Grand Tour, and also won a stage in Paris-Nice.

Thanks in part to that outstanding year, Almeida has now signed a new contract with UAE. "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," his team said in a press release.

It makes Almeida - logically - happy. "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," the Portuguese said.

"Over the past few seasons, we’ve achieved some big results together, but I still feel there’s a lot more to come," the Caldas de Rainha-born rider also warns the competition. "Extending my contract gives me the confidence and stability to keep building toward those goals."

As we have come to expect from UAE, Almeida also emphasizes team spirit. "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," he concluded.