Afonso Eulálio kept the Maglia Rosa after Stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia, defending the race lead in the 42km individual time trial from Viareggio to Massa. The Portuguese also retained the Maglia Bianca after the first test of the second week.

The stage was the Giro’s only individual time trial, with a flat and fast route along the Tuscan coast. Starting in Viareggio, the course followed long, open roads through Versilia before finishing in Massa, on a day made for the time trial specialists.

Filippo Ganna (Netcompany INEOS) won the stage with a time of 45’53”, ahead of teammate Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS), who finished second at 1’54”. Rémi Cavagna (Groupama-FDJ United) completed the podium, finishing third at 1’59”.

For Eulálio, the objective was clear: manage the effort, limit the losses, and fight to keep pink. He completed the course in 50’50”, finishing 41st on the stage, but doing enough to remain in the Maglia Rosa. After losing 1’57” to Jonas Vingegaard on the day, Eulálio now leads the general classification by 27 seconds.

Franco Pellizotti said after the stage:

“One day less to Rome. Afonso made a great effort today and rode a good time trial. We knew this would be a hard day for us, but in the end we are still in pink, and that is the most important thing.

We knew the gaps could change today, and that some riders could take time, but our objective was to arrive at the time trial in the pink jersey and try to get through the day still in pink. We did that, so mission accomplished. We are very proud to keep the Maglia Rosa after a stage like this, because we knew how difficult it could be for us.

Tomorrow we start again with the Maglia Rosa, and from there we continue day by day. It was not an easy stage, but in the end it was a great day for the team.”

Afonso Eulàlio said:

“I don’t have words to explain this. In my head, I thought I would lose the Maglia Rosa today because normally time trials are the hardest thing for me, and this one was flat and very long. But I just kept fighting, and I think the Maglia Rosa gives some extra power.

To tell you the truth, during the stage I never really believed I could keep it. I just continued fighting all the time. At some points, the sports directors were telling me I was close on time, but I thought maybe they were just saying that to give me extra motivation. Then little by little they kept updating me, saying I still had two minutes, then one minute thirty, and I just went full gas until the finish.

I just want to keep these jerseys because I think both the Maglia Rosa and the Maglia Bianca give me something extra. I don’t know what will happen when I lose them, so for now I just want to keep fighting.”

It was another important day for the team, with Alec Segaert also producing a strong ride in the time trial, finishing 16th on the stage.