Afonso Eulálio has all but secured the Maglia Bianca at the Giro d’Italia after defending his lead in the young rider classification on Stage 20, the final mountain stage of the race.
The 200km stage from Gemona del Friuli to Piancavallo was the last major test before tomorrow’s final stage in Rome. The route included the Clauzetto climb before the race reached Piancavallo twice, with the final ascent coming after almost three weeks of racing.
For Bahrain Victorious, the priority was clear: protect Eulálio’s lead in the young rider classification and bring the white jersey through the final mountain stage. Davide Piganzoli remained the closest threat, but Eulálio responded with another strong ride under pressure and kept control of the Maglia Bianca before the final day.
The stage was won by Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), who attacked on the final climb and took a solo victory ahead of Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) and Jai Hindley (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe). Behind, the GC riders split again on the final ascent, but Eulálio limited his losses and defended his lead in the young rider classification.
After Stage 20, Eulálio leads the Maglia Bianca standings and sits sixth overall. Damiano Caruso also remains inside the top ten in ninth, giving Bahrain Victorious two riders in the top ten ahead of the final stage in Rome.
For Eulálio, the result comes at the end of a Giro in which he showed consistency across all three weeks. After wearing the Maglia Rosa earlier in the race, he continued to defend the young rider classification through the hardest mountain stages and has now all but secured the Maglia Bianca heading into the final stage.
Afonso Eulálio said:
“Today was another hard day, with long climbs again in the final. After yesterday’s stage, I was not feeling at my best mentally, because it had been such a hard day, but the team and all the staff did an amazing job. They motivated me, they believed in me, and in the end we kept fighting to bring home the Maglia Bianca.
To finish this Giro with the white jersey, and with both me and Damiano in the top ten overall, is something I will never forget. This Giro will stay in my head forever.”
Sports Director Franco Pellizotti said:
“It was an amazing day for us. Stage 20 was difficult because Piganzoli was close, but Afonso did another amazing day. We arrive in Rome with this white jersey, and I’m very proud — not only about the jersey, but about the whole Giro.
We had Alec’s stage victory, two riders in the top ten on GC, nine days in the pink jersey, and now the white jersey. I would say it’s a dream, especially after the start we had, losing Santi early in the race. Nobody knew what this Giro could become for us, but the guys worked a lot, and the commitment from everyone was incredible. I want to say thanks to all of them.”
