"The first two weeks give you room to play": Uruguayan Thomas Silva aims to be the breakout rider of 2026 Giro d’Italia

Uruguayan cycling has found in Thomas Silva its new standard-bearer in the international peloton. At 24, the XDS Astana Team rider has launched a spectacular start to the season, consolidating his progress after his spell at Caja Rural - Seguros RGA generated great interest among WorldTour teams.

The recent victory by the Uruguayan at the Tour of Hainan, where he sealed the overall win and grabbed two stages, was no fluke but the payoff from a hard winter of work alongside a rapid adaptation to the top tier.

Silva, who already knows the demands of a Grand Tour after having competed at the Vuelta a España last year, now faces his next major challenge: the Giro d’Italia. Backed by full confidence from his team, the Uruguayan underlines the importance of this step forward in his career and his gratitude for the opportunities the Kazakh outfit has given him.

"From the first contact with the team I felt very comfortable. It’s true I worked very hard over the winter. At the start I had to help my teammates, work that often goes unseen, but little by little the chances to race for results came," he says in an interview with Luis Pasamontes on El Corte Bueno, stressing what he has learned alongside riders like Diego Ulissi and Alberto Bettiol.

Raised in a family with deep cycling roots, Silva returned to competition at 15 after a brief flirtation with football, which he left when he realised his true passion was on two wheels.

The Uruguayan rider embraces technology and training data without losing sight of an attacking style, so characteristic of a team like XDS Astana. He also defines himself as a versatile rider, fond of rolling, leg-sapping races with uphill drags to the line, and able to perform in extreme weather.

For the South American, nutrition and meticulous effort control have transformed the peloton. So has sharing the road with today’s dominant figures, such as Tadej Pogacar, whose level he finds astonishing, especially in the run-in to the climbs.

"The one who impresses most today is Pogacar. In Sanremo he crashed a few kilometres before the Cipressa and hit the first kilometre already full gas; we were already on the limit there and this guy was flying," he says with admiration.

Looking at TV coverage, the Uruguayan wants broadcasts to better convey the speeds in the peloton and highlight the risk riders face inside the race. He points to the finale of "La Classicissima."

Thomas Silva’s breakout in the WorldTour is the result of a maturation that began on Uruguayan roads, moved through the demanding Spanish amateur calendar, and culminated in his rise to the international peloton.

His victory at the Tour of Hainan confirms that development and the work from the youth ranks. Step by step from CC Maldonado to Caja Rural, and then to XDS Astana. Beyond personal success, Silva highlights that what has impressed him most in his current setup is the close touch and technical attention to detail with which the team looks after its riders.

"The biggest difference is how many people each team moves and the infrastructure. There’s a person for everything, that’s what strikes you most. We’re months into the season and I’m still meeting team staff," Silva explains.

For the Uruguayan, mechanics and soigneurs play a fundamental role in the team’s daily performance. A WorldTour budget lets him focus solely on pedalling and following the protocols of a sport that leaves nothing to chance.

For his Giro d’Italia build-up, Silva has chosen a fully tailored calendar, alternating altitude camps with targeted racing blocks.

Unlike teammates who bet on the Ardennes classics, he sharpened his form after his Asian trip. He is convinced by this year’s Corsa Rosa route, which offers plenty of opportunities in the first two weeks for fast-finishing, crafty riders.

"I’ve taken a look at the route and it’s a Giro where you can play a lot in the first two weeks, so let’s see what comes," he says with ambition. His ability to perform in both heat and the "traditional" spring weather in Italy should help him stand out early on.