Almeida's Exit Silences Portugal's Cafés, Pogačar Faces Solo Fight

The collective gasp that rippled through Portuguese cafés on Sunday afternoon still hangs in the air. Fans who had been celebrating João Almeida’s barn-storming season watched in disbelief as the 27-year-old from Azeitão climbed into the team car during Stage 9 of the Tour de France. A fractured rib, suffered two days earlier, finally won the argument between courage and physiology. Now, with Almeida sidelined, Tadej Pogačar must hunt a fourth yellow jersey without his favourite mountain lieutenant, and Portuguese cycling supporters—expats included—are recalibrating their July viewing plans.

A rib snaps, a strategy bends

A routine Alpine descent during Stage 7 turned chaotic when wet tarmac sent several riders sliding; Almeida’s tumble left him with a broken rib, bruised hand and a race-long battle against every deep breath. For two further stages he gritted his teeth and shielded Pogačar from rival attacks, but UAE Team Emirates medical staff confirmed on the morning of July 13 that the pain had become "incompatível com rendimento". Losing Almeida deprives the Slovenian leader of a power-pacing climber, forces sports director Mauro Gianetti to shuffle responsibilities toward Adam Yates, and may encourage Pogačar to race more defensively on the remaining high-altitude finishes. The reshuffle matters because Jonas Vingegaard’s Visma squad thrives on relentless tempo changes—precisely the moments when Almeida’s steady diesel engine is most valuable.

Portuguese pride—and disappointment—on the Boulevard des Pyrénées

For Portugal’s cycling community, Almeida’s withdrawal feels personal. He is the country’s most consistent Grand Tour contender since Rui Costa’s 2013 world title, and his spring treble—Basque Country, Romandie, Suisse—had many dreaming of the nation’s first Tour podium. Even foreign residents who adopted Portugal as home have noticed the way television audiences swell whenever Almeida appears on screen. The day he climbed off the bike, national broadcaster RTP recorded a sudden 18 % dip in viewership for the remaining 90 minutes of the stage. Café owners in Lisbon’s bairro of Estrela report that "nobody ordered a second bica once João abandoned—people simply paid and left," as one barista put it. Yet optimism persists: Almeida himself posted on social media that he is "desapontado mas confiante" that Pogačar will still triumph in Paris, a sentiment echoed by Portuguese fans chanting "João hoje, Pogačar amanhã" along the roadside near Pau.

What next for Almeida—and how long until he races again?

Team doctors expect the rib fracture to heal within 4-6 weeks, a timeline that keeps Almeida on course for his planned leadership role at the Vuelta a España in late August. He has already relocated to Monte Gordo in the Algarve for low-impact training sessions—humid sea air helps with respiratory recovery—before resuming altitude work in Sierra Nevada. If all goes well, the Vuelta could offer Portugal its first real shot at a Grand Tour victory since Joaquim Agostinho’s near-misses of the 1970s. Sponsors are also eager: Portuguese fintech start-up CaixaPay is reportedly negotiating a one-race co-title deal around Almeida’s Vuelta campaign, a sign of how commercially valuable he has become despite this setback.

How expats in Portugal can still savour Tour 2025

Even without Almeida in the peloton, there is no shortage of storylines to follow. Pogačar’s duel with Vingegaard, Ben Healy’s surprise stint in yellow, and Nelson Oliveira’s role at Movistar all keep Portuguese interest alive. For newcomers, most neighbourhood cafés will switch from football to cycling in the afternoons—just ask for a seat near the screen and order a "tosta mista e imperial" to blend in. English-language commentary is available via Eurosport Player, which streams reliably across Portuguese broadband networks. And if the mountain stages leave you hungry for real altitude, tap into the expat cycling clubs that gather every weekend in Sintra and Serra da Estrela; rides often end with a roadside TV stop to catch the final kilometres. Almeida may be healing, but the Tour rolls on—and, from Lagos to Porto, Portugal will be watching.