"It is up to Visma to worry about this guy" - BORA drop Giro responsibility as Afonso Eulálio enters Giro battle
Cycling
Team Visma | Lease a Bike is the team to beat at this Giro d'Italia, and Jonas Vingegaard's rivals have not forgotten that. Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe had the firepower in the chaotic fifth stage of the Corsa Rosa, but they did not have a problem in letting the gap to the new pink jersey Afonso Eulálio skyrocket. The German team believes it is Visma's responsibility to control it.
With the Portuguese rider in the day's breakaway and Lidl-Trek ending their bout of work due to lack of firepower on the mountainous stage into Potenza, it was Red Bull who took control of the peloton on the ascent to Viggiano. Aleksandr Vlasov kept Giulio Pellizzari and Jai Hindley in the front and comfortable; but the team did not look to attack.
Before the climb they were already in front, taking a decisive stance, proving their depth on a day where chaos thrived. But the team wasn't looking to close down the gap, or favour their rivals on the approach to the finish.
"We rode at the front to position ourselves for the descent. We still had the manpower anyway, so that was the best way to use it," team manager Christian Pömer explained in a post-race interview with Cyclingnews.
Illness spreading at the Giro d'Italia peloton
Eulálio has gained significant time and has now moved into the race lead with over six minutes to the likes of Vingegaard and Giulio Pellizzari. Pömer shaked off the time gaps that were created, instead pushing the pressure in the direction of Visma.
"Our goal is to finish on the podium, so it is up to Visma to worry about this guy [...] Jonas is his own opponent". It is a direct statement from the German team, who look to pressure Visma into spending their bullets.
Whilst Eulálio is not a direct threat to Jonas Vingegaard as of this moment, the six-minute gap cannot be underestimated; and ultimately Red Bull shows that it does not look to be the one to put the pressure on the pink jersey.
However, the following days can see bad revelations within the teams, as Pömer also talks about illnesses moving through the peloton. The rainy days that the riders have faced so far can lead to health problems; specially this fifth stage which saw many riders in difficulties due to the day-long rain and cold temperatures that affected them.
"I have already heard that something is going around in the peloton and a day like this won't help matters. We will see what the consequences of such a rainy day are. We are doing what we can and hopefully everyone stays fit," he concluded.
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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