"Carapaz was unbelievably strong" - Tom Pidcock bows down to former Olympic Champion's daring attack
Cycling
The second day of the second week at the Giro d'Italia didn't have a specific favourite, and it ended being as chaotic of a day as one could expect. This could've on paper favoured Tom Pidcock, but the Briton could only follow the GC riders and watch as former teammate Richard Carapaz launched an explosive attack to conquer stage 11.
The Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team rider was not one of the main favourites for the day, but that was because most expected a breakaway to succeed on the day. However this was not what happened, after several teams commited to chase the front group. The Swiss team, after seeing the opportunity, was one of them.
"When we saw the race was in reach we and Trek started to ride," Pidcock said in a post-race interview. "I went to Marco [Frigo] and they got me back up after I got dropped on that climb". After San Pellegrino, Pidcock could enjoy some terrain where he had better chances of riding with the very best.
The possibility certainly was there, but Pidcock could not respond to the winning attack. "We went for the stage but Carapaz was unbelievably strong there. At the top we were pacing it, but the way Carapaz went up that climb was impressive". Pidcock sprinted then to fourth on the day, another near miss, a result that won't satisfy him.
"That was tough. It's one of those days where we have non-GC days where everyone goes all-in [...] But in the end, as you say, it was a breakaway day that turned into a GC day". Although the GC is unlikely to be a goal, with this performance Pidcock climbed back into the Top15, winning back a position on Chris Harper. Stage 13 to Monte Berico will be a golden opportunity for him to fight for a victory.
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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Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
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santiagobenites14-11-2026
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