After several top five results in the Vuelta a Espana and the Giro d’Italia, the Portuguese rider has now completed his series with a top five finish at the Grand Boucle.

In the race for fourth place against Mikel Landa, the Portuguese rider found some advantage in the final 33-kilometre time trial from Monaco to Nice. However, the UAE Team Emirates rider eventually beat the Soudal-Quick-Step rider, leaving him 21 seconds further behind in the general classification at the end of the day.

When asked to comment on Tadej Pogacar’s six wins in a post-race interview, Almeida replied: “He told me he would give it his all, so I imagine he went for it all the way.”

“This is amazing. Congratulations to him and congratulations to the team, we did a perfect job and we can be proud of what we did.”

It was Almeida’s first time competing in the Tour and he quickly established himself as a key member of the team. He and Adam Yates were among the last men to support Pogacar as he headed into the mountains to complete the Giro-Tour double, a feat not seen since Marco Pantani in 1998.

“It’s very special to be part of this victory, I’m very happy that he did it. Today was a great day.”

A passionate Irish journalist with a passion for cycling, politics and of course Portugal, especially their sausage rolls.

Rory McGinn