In the high-stakes choreography of a Grand Tour, the roles are usually cast months in advance. For James Shaw, the script for this May’s Giro d’Italia was written in a single, clear directive: support Richard Carapaz. Shaw, a seasoned veteran of the road, was brought into the EF Education-EasyPost fold with a specific purpose—to be the engine, the protector, and the loyal lieutenant for a man capable of winning the whole thing.
But professional cycling is rarely a matter of sticking to the script. For the second consecutive Grand Tour, EF has seen its general classification (GC) ambitions derailed by a late withdrawal from Carapaz. After missing last year’s Vuelta a España due to illness, the former race winner was forced to sideline himself for the Giro due to the lingering effects of a recent operation. The result was a radical, immediate pivot in strategy that transformed Shaw from a supporting actor into a protagonist.
“With no Richie, the plans had to change,” Shaw noted, acknowledging the shift in his objective. Instead of spending three weeks shielding a leader from the wind and hauling him up the steepest gradients of the Dolomites, Shaw now finds himself on a “breakaway hunt.” It is a transition from the selfless grind of a domestique to the opportunistic aggression of a stage hunter, a role that requires a different kind of mental and physical fortitude.
For Shaw, the challenge is not merely about getting into the break, but surviving it. The modern era of cycling has seen a tactical evolution that has made the “straightforward break” a thing of the past. The quality of the riders attempting to escape the peloton has risen, as GC contenders who have lost time or riders who have written off their overall standings use breakaways to salvage their races.
The Evolution of the Breakaway
Shaw observes that the dynamic of the Giro, and Grand Tours in general, has shifted over the last few years. The era where a few adventurous riders could slip away with little resistance has largely evaporated. Today, breakaways are often contested by high-caliber athletes who possess both the power to escape and the endurance to stay away.
“Maybe that was the case [that it was easier to get in breaks] a few years ago, but that’s certainly changed a bit now,” Shaw said. He pointed to the presence of riders like Jay Vine during the Vuelta as an example of the high-caliber talent now filling these gaps. When riders of that pedigree are hunting for stage wins, the “quality of breaks” increases, making the entry point more competitive and the subsequent battle for the finish line more grueling.
 "James Shaw Grand Tours")
This shift in strategy requires a calculated approach to energy management. Rather than attacking every day in a desperate bid for glory, Shaw employs a method of selective aggression. By studying the route book and identifying “crunch moments,” he intentionally eases back on certain stages to ensure he has the reserves necessary to fight for a win on the days that suit his profile.
“You choose your battles,” Shaw explained. This tactical patience is a hallmark of a rider who has navigated the complexities of the Tour de France and multiple Vueltas. It is a game of marginal gains and careful timing, where the difference between a stage victory and a “did not finish” (DNF) often comes down to knowing when to surrender and when to strike.
The Romance and Brutality of Italy
At 29, Shaw possesses a comprehensive palmares that includes the Tour, three Vueltas, and now his second Giro. This experience has given him a nuanced understanding of how the three Grand Tours differ—not just in geography, but in their fundamental character.
| Grand Tour | Defining Characteristic | Primary Challenge |
|---|---|---|
| Tour de France | The Fastest | High speed and intense pressure |
| Vuelta a España | The Hottest | Extreme heat and steep gradients |
| Giro d’Italia | The Most Romantic | Weather, mountains, and long days |
While the Tour is defined by its blistering pace and the Vuelta by its oppressive heat, Shaw views the Giro as the most challenging to complete. The Italian race is famous for its “Grand Partenze”—long-distance starts that often take the riders outside the borders of Italy—and its unpredictable weather. Shaw’s own experience with these long-distance starts, including mentions of previous ventures into regions like Albania, underscores the unique logistical and physical toll the Giro extracts from its participants.
Despite the hardship, Shaw describes the Giro as the most “scenic and romantic” of the three. It is a race of contrasts: the breathtaking beauty of the Italian landscape set against the brutal reality of the heaviest mountains in professional cycling.
A Childhood Bond on the World Stage
Beyond the tactics and the terrain, this Giro has provided a poignant human connection for Shaw. The start list includes Josh Giddings, a fellow professional from Nottingham who received a late call-up for Lotto-Intermarché. For the two riders, the race is a reunion of sorts, tracing back to their early days at the Heanor Clarion club on the Nottinghamshire-Derbyshire border.
The relationship is one of mentor and pupil. Shaw recalls a time when he was a teenager teaching a much younger Giddings how to use rollers—the stationary training cylinders used to improve cadence and form. “I’m probably like 16, 17, and he’s probably like 9 or 10 or something like that,” Shaw said with a smile. The physical disparity has since shifted dramatically; Giddings has experienced a massive growth spurt, now standing at 1.95 meters, nearly 20 centimeters taller than Shaw.
This subplot adds a layer of warmth to the professional intensity of the race. In a sport often defined by isolation and suffering, the presence of a childhood friend provides a rare point of familiarity amidst the chaos of the peloton.
Preparation and the ‘Alien’ Aesthetic
Shaw’s preparation for the Giro deviated from the traditional altitude camp. Instead, he opted for the intensity of the Ardennes Classics, a move that provided a different set of advantages and disadvantages in terms of race sharpness and endurance. This “racing into fitness” approach is a gamble, but one that aligns with his goal of being explosive enough to penetrate the breakaways.
Even the team’s visual identity has been a point of conversation. EF Education-EasyPost introduced a special “Alien” themed kit for the Giro, a bold aesthetic choice that has divided opinion within the squad. While Shaw admits the UFO-themed gear “is not for me”—preferring the clean white kit from the previous year—he accepts it as a refreshing change of pace for the team.
Regardless of the kit or the missing leader, Shaw remains grounded. He knows that the road to success in Italy is paved with unpredictability. With the strategy now firmly shifted toward the breakaway, the focus remains on the route book, the weather forecasts, and the relentless pursuit of a stage win.
The pursuit continues as the race moves into its most decisive mountain phases. All eyes will be on Shaw and the EF squad to see if this forced pivot in strategy can yield a victory in the most romantic of the Grand Tours.
Do you think a change in leadership strategy can actually benefit a team’s overall stage count? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
