Joao Almeida will make his debut at this weekend's Vuelta a España. However, the Portuguese rider, who leads the UAE Team Emirates, is downplaying his chances ahead of the race.

The 24-year-old burst on to the scene two years ago, turning pink in the Giro d'Italia for two weeks before finishing fourth in Milan. This year, he looked set to repeat that until he was eliminated from the race by COVID-19 just three days after the finish.

Almeida made a comeback at the Portuguese Championships in June (where he won the road race) and competed in two events, the Donostia San Sebastian Classicoa and the Vuelta a Burgos. He was runner-up in the latter, but at Wednesday's pre-race press conference, he did not seem confident about his chances in the Vuelta.

"I'm going to try to get as much GC as I can," Almeida said. I don't have great legs, I don't have super legs. I don't want to expect a podium or anything like that."

"I'm going to give it my all, but I want to stay grounded."

Almeida noted that it has taken him some time to regain his form after his abandonment at the Giro. Almeida noted that it took him some time to regain his form after his abandonment in the Giro.

"I think I'm past it," he said. 'I don't have any symptoms, but I stopped for quite a long time and I'm not back in shape that fast. I feel recovered physically and mentally.

"I haven't been in the best of shape for the past few months, and I wasn't at my best. My preparation has not been ideal. That's part of cycling.

"In Burgos I was still okay.

Almeida closed out Burgos with a win on the final day, defeating Astana Cazacustan leader Miguel Angel Lopez in the summit finish of Lagunas de Neira.

The Colombian will be one of Almeida's rivals for the top GC spot in the Vuelta. Others on the start list include three-time champion Primoš Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), Remco Evenpole (Quick Step-Alfa Vinyl), Giro winner Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe), and 2018 Vuelta winner Simon Yates ( Bike Exchange-Jayco) are among the key riders.

One rider who would immediately love to race alongside these names for equally big prize money is Spaniard Juan Ayuso, who makes his Grand Tour debut this month with Almeida support. The youngest Vuelta starter since 1980, the 19-year-old has proven in his first full season as a professional that he is definitely a star.

Highlights of Ayuso's 2022 campaign include a fifth place in the Catalunya Volta, a fourth place in the Tour de Romandie, and a victory at last month's Circuit de Gesso. Despite these promising results, he said he will attend this Vuelta only to support and learn.

"I will support him. I'm making my Grand Tour debut and I have to learn," Ayuso said of Almeida.

"I know there is a lot of pressure, especially from the Spaniards. I'm happy that my first Grand Tour was in my home country. So I really want to learn and prepare for the years to come."

"I know there is pressure, but I know how to handle it. For me it's not a problem."