João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida (pronounced[ʒuˈɐ̃walˈmɐjðɐ]; born 5 August 1998) is a Portuguese professional cyclist who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam UAE Team Emirates.
Career
2019
In August 2019, Almeida, then riding for Hagens Berman Axeon, signed a 2-year contract with World Tour team Deceuninck–Quick-Step.
Deceuninck–Quick-Step (2020-2021)
2020
After a 2nd place finish in the Giro dell'Emilia, Almeida was named in the start list for the 2020 Giro d'Italia, his first ever participation in a Grand Tour. He wore the Giro's pink leader's jersey for 15 consecutive days, from stage 4 to stage 18, the longest ever by an under-23 rider. He eventually finished 4th overall in the general classification, the highest ever placing by a Portuguese rider.
2021
Almeida at the 2021 Giro d'Italia
After a series of top-10 finishes in winter and early-spring stage races, Almeida's contract with Deceuninck–Quick-Step was set to expire by the end of the year. Despite this, Almeida was again featured in the start list for the 2021 Giro d'Italia. After supporting Remco Evenepoel in the first 2 weeks, Almeida ended up finishing in the top-10 in the last 6 stages, placing 6th overall in the general classification.
In June, Almeida became Portuguese Time Trial Champion as an Elite rider. He later participated in the UEC European Road Championships and the Olympics.
In August, Almeida signed a 5-year contract with UAE Team Emirates to begin in 2022. Shortly after, he achieved his first stage-race general classification victories, in the Tour de Pologne and Tour de Luxembourg, also winning 3 stages and both the youth rider and points classification in the latter.
In the Autumn, Almeida finished 47th in the UCI Road World Championships Elite Road Race; 2nd in Giro dell'Emilia, losing to Primož Roglič by 3 seconds; and 3rd in Milano–Torino.
UAE Team Emirates (2022–)
2022
Almeida wearing the Maglia bianca at the 2023 Giro d'Italia
Almeida was in 4th place in the general classification at the Giro d'Italia when he was forced to abandon the race after stage 17 due to a positive test for COVID-19.
In June, Almeida won the Portuguese National Road Race Championships, and placed 3rd in the Time Trial. In September, he placed 5th overall in the Vuelta a España.
2023
Almeida placed 3rd overall in the Giro d'Italia, becoming the first Portuguese rider to reach the podium in a grand tour since Joaquim Agostinho's 3rd place finish in the 1979 Tour de France. Almeida also secured a victory in stage 16 and placed 1st in the young rider classification. For the second time, Almeida won the Portuguese National Time Trial Championships. In September, he placed 9th overall in the Vuelta a España.
Major results
2015
2nd Time trial, National Junior Road Championships
2016
National Junior Road Championships
1stRoad race
1stTime trial
2017
3rd Time trial, National Under-23 Road Championships
4th Overall Toscana-Terra di Ciclismo
1st Stage 2
4th Overall Tour of Ankara
8th Overall Tour of Mersin
1st Stage 3
9th Overall Tour of Ukraine
1st Young rider classification
1st Stage 4
2018
1st Liège–Bastogne–Liège Espoirs
National Under-23 Road Championships
2nd Road race
2nd Time trial
2nd Overall Giro Ciclistico d'Italia
1st Young rider classification
5th Overall Ronde de l'Isard
1st Young rider classification
7th Overall Tour de l'Avenir
2019
National Under-23 Road Championships
1stRoad race
1stTime trial
4th Overall Tour of Utah
1stYoung rider classification
2020
2nd Giro dell'Emilia
3rd Overall Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali
Leo
Giro d'Italia
Tour de France
Vuelta a España
Tirreno–Adriatico
Volta a Catalunya
Critérium du Dauphiné