PUEBLO, Colo. – Joao Ricardo Vieira’s white undershirt was soaked in sweat as he began to take off his sponsored riding shirt and vest.
Vieira had just ridden All The Way Up for 87 points in Round 1 of the U.S. Border Patrol Invitational in Duluth, Georgia, after accepting a re-ride option.
Vieira’s left bicep bulged as he leaned forward to pick up a water bottle, which crinkled in his grip, and took a sip.
The chiseled 34-year-old was able to let out a slight exhale as the cool water made contact with his tongue.
He may have been drenched in sweat, but he mentally and physically felt great.
“I feel good,” Vieira said with a shrug. “You need to stay tough and healthy to take the re-ride. It was a little hard because I had no time to rest. I rode one and had to go ride another. It was hard.”
The No. 2 rider in the world standings is off to the best start of his career this season.
Vieira has won a PBR-high three Unleash The Beast events and is a riding at a personal-best 61.54 percent through nine events.
The seventh-year veteran’s 16 rides in 26 outs is tied with No. 4 Chase Outlaw for the Unleash The Beast lead.
Vieira has continued to improve on his riding away from his hand this season, but there is another development for the bull rider who has already won over $700,000 this season at PBR and pro rodeos.
The six-time PBR World Finals qualifier has dropped 12 pounds since he returned to the United States last August.
2018 was Vieira’s worst season in the PBR by far. He finished 21st in the world standings with a career-low 31.43-percent riding average.
One of the biggest culprits to Vieira’s poor season outside of injuries to his riding wrist and knees?
His weight.
Vieira was as heavy as 172 pounds at one point.
“I was so strong and had too much muscle mass,” Vieira said. “It was no good for riding. I need to be skinny.”
Vieira got to work in the gym by upping up his cardio regimen. He also began to work more outside at his friend’s ranch in Texas.
The Itatinga, Brazil, bull rider now weighs in at 160 pounds.
“After Barretos and August, I started working out to be healthier,” Vieira said. “I didn’t change my eating. I just kept working more outside on the ranch. Lots of cardio and riding the (stationary) bicycle.”
Vieira added that he has not changed his diet, but instead just focuses on his style of training.
PBR Director of Livestock Cody Lambert has noticed the physical change in Vieira this year.
Lambert can tell Vieira is putting in the work to be a World Champion and to improve his riding ability.
“He has put a lot of work in,” Lambert said following Vieira’s $433,333.33 victory at THE AMERICAN. “Don’t just think it is mechanics either. He is as ripped as any bull rider out there as far as physical fitness. He is as strong as the strongest one and lean as the leanest one.
“He is more dedicated than anyone else and he deserves it more than anyone else right now.”
Vieira trails world leader Jess Lockwood by 102.5 world points ahead of this weekend’s Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s Dayton Rumble.
The Unleash The Beast is off this weekend, but Vieira will be heading to Ohio with the opportunity to supplant Lockwood in the standings.
One rider can earn a maximum of 220 points toward the world standings in Dayton.
Vieira takes on Tequila Slinger (1-2, all levels) in Round 1.
Fans can watch the action exclusively on RidePass beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Also competing in Dayton is No. 3 Jose Vitor Leme, No. 12 Claudio Montanha Jr., No. 18 Lucas Divino, No. 22 Daniel Tinsman, No. 23 Junio Quaresima, No. 36 Marcus Mast, and No. 37 Stetson Lawrence.
Lambert credits both Lockwood and Vieira for their first half success, and the PBR co-founder has been impressed with Vieira’s February run of dominance.
“The level of respect I have for Joao is way, way up there,” Lambert said. “He earned everything, and that is all he wants. He wants an opportunity to earn it. He wants nothing given to him. He wants an opportunity to earn it and he takes that opportunity. He is not looking for a shortcut or loophole in the rules or scheme. He is playing the game the way it should be played.
“I love and appreciate the way he earned it. The AMERICAN. Iron Cowboy. Global Cup.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
