João Almeida finishes second overall at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana

Rounding off a week of consistent performances, João Almeida finished safely inside the peloton on the final day of the Volta Comunitat Valenciana, securing his position on the final podium. After running race winner Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) close on Saturday’s hilly stage to Teulada Moraira, Almeida ended the five-day stage race in second position.

It is a repeat of Almeida’s performance in last year’s edition, which preceded the best season of his career, with memorable wins at Itzulia Basque Country, the Tour de Romandie, and the Tour de Suisse. Starting his 2026 campaign with an equally strong display, Almeida looks in fine fettle to continue life as one of the peloton’s most consistent general classification riders.

On stage 5, Almeida did try to upset the applecart with a late burst in the crosswinds, but although he and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad were able to create splits in the peloton, the race leader Evenepoel stayed well-attuned. Nonetheless, the Emirati squad were able to animate the race from afar with the young neo-pro, Adrià Pericas.

The 19-year-old made the step up from the team’s Gen Z squad to its WorldTour outfit over the winter, and his talents have already shone in the early season. Pericas spent just under 70km in the breakaway at the recent Trofeo Serra Tramuntana, and was one of only two riders to follow the back wheel of Evenepoel when the Belgian bridged across to the front and made a searing attack.

This time at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana, Pericas has worked diligently for his teammates all week, but got his opportunity to test himself as stage 5 hit the steep slopes of the Port del Garbí (5.1km at 7.1%).

Falling midway through the stage, the climb provided ample ground for the breakaway of the day to be arranged, and Pericas ensured he was within that number. Following all the right moves, the Spaniard went clear of the peloton, and through the day’s closing 20km, worked as hard as anybody to ensure the leading group was not caught.

Pericas’ work paid off, with the breakaway contesting the day’s honours with the peloton just metres behind. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG man, more of a climber than a man for the sprint, rode his heart out in the final straight, but rolled across the line in fourth. In his first stage race as a WorldTour athlete, such a high finish is worthy of lots of kudos.

The overall spoils, meanwhile, went to Evenepoel of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.

The former world champion was not to be stopped in Spain, but UAE Team Emirates-XRG mounted a commendable team effort across the board. Alongside placing Almeida in the runner-up spot, his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Brandon McNulty impressed to take fifth place overall.

Earlier in the week, it was teammate Florian Vermeersch‘s time to shine, with the Belgian springing a smart attack on the final descent of stage 3. The late breakaway lasted until the stage finish, with Vermeersch sprinting to third place across the line, his best result of the season to date.

Between attacking displays and placing two riders inside the top five in the general classification, the Volta Comunitat Valenciana proved a successful week for UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s squad of seven, many of whom were making their first appearances of the campaign.

Almeida: “It was the first week of racing this season, and it was pretty good. The goal was, of course, to fight for the race win, and to see how the legs are for real. I think it was a good week for the team, we missed a stage win but I think we can be proud of our teamwork. Now, it is good motivation for my next races in the Algarve.”

Volta Comunitat Valenciana stage 5 results:

1. Raúl García Pierna (Movistar) 2:09:44

2. Emil Herzog (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) s.t

3. Jasper Schoofs (Soudal Quick-Step) s.t

4. Adrià Pericas (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) s.t

Volta Comunitat Valenciana final general classification after stage 5:

1. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) 13:10:12

2. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +31″

3. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +34″

5. Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +50″