Almeida rues first climb mistake which cost him Volta a Catalunya lead

CAMBRILS SPAIN MARCH 26 Joo Almeida of Portugal and UAE Team Emirates Green Leader Jersey competes during the 101st Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2022 Stage 6 a 1685km stage from Costa Daurada SalouCambrils to Costa Daurada SalouCambrils VoltaCatalunya101 WorldTour on March 26 2022 in Cambrils Spain Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo MorenoGetty Images
João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) in the peloton during stage 6 of the Volta a Catalunya (Image credit: Gonzalo Arroyo MorenoGetty Images)

João Almeida's Volta a Catalunya GC lead was one of fine margins at the outset of stage 6, with the UAE Team Emirates leader's one-second lead over Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic) vulnerable to attack on the hilly stage in the Prades mountains.

Few will have foreseen, however, the stunning long-range move which transferred the white-and-green jersey from his back onto that of Bora-Hansgrohe's Sergio Higuita. The Colombian turned a seven-second deficit into a 52-second advantage heading into Sunday's final stage, having launched a monumental 130km attack with Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers).

Dani Ostanek
Senior News Writer

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Before joining the team, she had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur. She writes and edits at Cyclingnews as well as running newsletter, social media, and how to watch campaigns.