"We’re not panicking over Carapaz’s time loss" - EF hopeful stage 11 can be a big day for former Giro d'Italia winner

Richard Carapaz started the 2025 Giro d'Italia as one of five former Maglia Rosa winners in the peloton. The Ecuadorian's hopes of adding a second Grand Tour win to his palmares have taken a bit of a hit over the first 10 stages though, with Carapaz sitting 9th in the GC at over two minutes down.

On stage 11 though, the Giro d'Italia is returning to the big mountains and according to EF Education-EasyPost sports director Matti Breschel, it could be a great chance for his team leader to start getting some time back on his GC rivals. “I think we need to stay attentive but not go all-in chasing the break,” Breschel tells Feltet.dk at the start of the stage, highlighting the fact that EF Education-EasyPost have not thrown away their hopes of a high GC placing just yet. 

“It’s not a problem if we don’t make the breakaway. It’s an important message to send — that we’re not panicking over Carapaz’s time loss," the Dane continues. "We need to show him that we’re sticking to the plan and backing him 100%. It’s also about making sure he has support in the finale.”

Given Carapaz's pedigree though, Breschel isn't sure his man will be given any leeway to attack, regardless of the time loss he's already accumulated. “I don’t think they’ll give him any room. He’d have to go for the stage win, and we don’t have the kind of team that can keep the group together and chase down a breakaway,” he explains. “It’s all or nothing on that mountain (San Pellegrino). There’s only one pace, and it’s as hard as you can possibly go. That’s how you have to approach it, and a lot of riders are going to suffer today."

“It’s going to be a monster stage, no doubt about it. It’s exciting, because San Pellegrino is one of the toughest climbs in this year’s Giro,” he previews. “I think it’ll be a breakaway. But it has to be a strong group, because you need to be really good in the mountains to stay ahead of the peloton. It could end up being two races in one. They (UAE) are going to control the stage, but I don’t see why they’d chase the stage win.”