Joao Almeida: I can't wait to race in front of fans at Giro D'Italia

As the start line of Stage 1 for the 2022 Giro D’Italia draws ever closer, the excitement and anticipation in the UAE Team Emirates camp is ramping up by the day.

For me and my teammates, 3,445km across 21 stages awaits, ranging from Time Trials, flat stages, and mountainous stages that are as challenging as anywhere else in the world. The Giro D’Italia is one of the three Grand Tours – alongside the Tour De France and Vuelta Espana – so for a cyclist it’s a very prestigious event. The calibre of rider at this race is of the highest standard. World-class riders earmark this event as their most important on the calendar each year, so you have to be at the very top of your game to get a good result.

The Giro itself is so special as the Italian people and Italy as a nation are cycling mad. Their passion and enthusiasm really rubs off on the riders and members of the team, further increasing our determination to produce the best result that we possibly can.

Having competed in the last two Giro D’Italia’s, it is a race that is incredibly important to me and one that I have thus far performed very well in. The time of year the race falls in seems to suit me, as it allows me to tailor my preparation perfectly and build up to the start line. Back in 2020, I was fortunate enough to be able to wear the Pink Jersey for a few days as the race leader. I can still remember the feeling of being on the saddle hearing the crowd chanting my name. It was arguably the most incredible moment I’ve had in cycling, so I am determined to recreate this experience and take a big result for UAE Team Emirates.

Heading into this year’s race, I have been able to train hard and prepare for all of the different challenges this Grand Tour event throws at