Almeida sick after Switzerland and Ayuso’s crash: How are Pogacar’s key domestiques faring?

UAE Team Emirates is starting the 2024 Tour de France with a powerhouse lineup, but their preparation hasn't been entirely smooth. Team leader Tadej Pogacar revealed at his press conference that he contracted COVID-19 a week and a half before the start of the Tour. Additionally, Juan Ayuso (due to a crash in the Dauphiné) and João Almeida (illness following the Tour de Suisse) also faced setbacks.

Ayuso assured Marca that he’s in good shape. After his crash, he was able to continue with his altitude training camp. "We had a good training block and the team is motivated, so we can expect good things. Tadej is also more than fine. It’s very important for the team to win the Tour, and it would be good to secure a strong position from the start."

"My goal is to help Tadej as much as possible to set him up for his third Tour victory," says Ayuso. "Once that’s achieved, I might get some freedom at a certain point. Maybe I can try to win a stage myself, but of course, we are mainly here for Tadej. It’s all about him."

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Almeida not ruling out strong general classification, but UAE-Team Emirates has no plan B

Almeida impressed in the Tour of Switzerland but revealed to A Bola that he fell ill right after the race. "I felt excellent there and we achieved promising results, but it was a bit annoying to get a little sick on the last day. I think it’ll be okay by the start of the Tour. It was just a minor cold. That shouldn’t be too impactful."

The Portuguese rider outlines his role for the Tour de France: "With Tadej as the leader, it’s different from other grand tours I’ve done. I hope to race well, stay at the front, and cause some damage, just like in the Volta a Catalunya. Finishing well in the general classification isn't out of the question, I’d say. But that depends on many factors."

However, there’s no plan B at UAE. "We haven’t even discussed a plan B, so there isn’t one. Pogacar is our leader, and the goal is clear: to win the Tour with him. Our strategy is well-defined, focusing solely on our own strength. This plan has been in place since December, and we have a very strong team that can always make a difference for Tadej," states one of the key support riders for the Slovenian leader.