Arnaud Démare had a rough start to the season and arrived at the Giro d'Italia with no wins under his belt and a lot of pressure. Throughout the three weeks though, the situation was turned upside down, as Groupama - FDJ thrived in the flat stages where it focused on the most.
“I wouldn’t have imagined this at the start in Hungary. I am very happy. We also finished with eight riders, that’s also a big satisfaction," Démare said after finishing his third Giro d'Italia. "It’s great to win the points classification again. To do that, you surely have to be good in the sprints, but you also have to handle the mountains, be patient and be strong mentally."
Having won the fifth stage into Messina, the team unblocked and Démare faced tough competition to bring in an extra two wins in Scalea and Cuneo. He enjoyed a long run in the lead of the points classification, and survived the Alps to finish off the Giro with the maglia ciclamino on his shoulders quite safely - just as he did back in 2020.
"It is always difficult to repeat a performance. We enjoy it in a different way than the first time. In 2020, everything was going well for us. This year, we came to the Giro after a disappointing start to the season for the group, and even a disappointing 2021 season," he said. However he assured that the hard work payed off: "We all worked hard before the Giro d’Italia, and the wheel of fortune turned."
"That’s the beauty of sport. We experience exceptional emotions. We always push ourselves to the limit, but when it goes well and that you are in front of everyone after a great work from your team, it creates moments that bind us for life," Démare pointed out. With the climbers focusing on the Tour de France, Groupama - FDJ brought a team almost completely focused on the 30-year old's ambitions, and the investment payed off as the team leaves with one of the most positive balances out of all the teams.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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