Two years after winning the pink jersey on his arrival at Etna, where he was in eleventh place, 1.03 minutes more than Jonathan Caicedo, UAE team boss Joao Almeida faces, on Tuesday, the first test of a high mountain fire at the Vuelta a Italia.

The fourth stage, starting from Avola at 11:30 and ending precisely at Etna, after a long climb of 22.8 km (average difference in level 5.9% and slopes of up to 14% in the most difficult sections), will be the first on Italian soil After the day of rest, he intended to move the convoy from Hungary, where the three initial voyages had taken place.

Therefore, it will be important for the Portuguese cyclist how to handle the long climb and the effort dose of running at an altitude of more than 1,800 meters and especially when the race enters the last five kilometres, at 1,500 meters above sea level, making it a mistake to run with the pink jersey in mind. .

The 2020 experience should serve as an unrepeatable example, even in contrast to those who see short-term cycling, in the thoroughbred marathon.

The most important thing is for Joao Almeida to be on the side of the candidates, not to waste time, move to some positions in the general standings and, if possible, win, because he does not have a team to defend, at this point, the leader’s pink jersey.