Afonso Eulálio retained the Maglia Bianca after Stage 14 of the Giro d’Italia, closing a strong run in the Maglia Rosa after several days leading the race for Bahrain Victorious.
The 133km stage from Aosta to Pila was the second major mountain test of the race and the first Alpine stage of this year’s Giro, with five categorised climbs and a summit finish in Pila. Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma – Lease a Bike) won the stage and moved into the Maglia Rosa, while Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) finished second and Jai Hindley (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) third.
Eulálio fought through the final ascent and finished the day second overall, 2:26 behind Vingegaard, while keeping the Maglia Bianca. Damiano Caruso was again there in support, as he has been throughout Eulálio’s days in the Maglia Rosa, guiding and helping him through another key day in the mountains. Gall moved up to third overall, 24 seconds behind Eulálio, leaving the Portuguese rider still in a strong GC position as the race continues.
Since taking the Maglia Rosa in Potenza, Eulálio has been at the centre of the race for Bahrain Victorious, leading the general classification through different types of stages, including the first mountain finish at Blockhaus and the individual time trial.
The team also made the most of those days at the front, with Alec Segaert taking a stage win in Novi Ligure and Eulálio wearing both the Maglia Rosa and Maglia Bianca during a strong block of racing for Bahrain Victorious.
With the Maglia Rosa now changing hands in Pila, Eulálio remains second overall and keeps the Maglia Bianca.
Afonso Eulàlio said after the stage:
“Today was another fight. Visma went all in for the stage in the final with Vingegaard, and for me it was a very hard day. I just tried to give my best, stay focused, and keep fighting until the finish.
When I dropped earlier than I wanted, I knew I had to stay on my own rhythm and try to save the day as much as possible. Damiano was with me in that moment, and that was perfect for me. He helped me a lot, and the whole team has done so much for me during these days.
Of course, losing the Maglia Rosa is not easy, but I kept the Maglia Bianca and I am still second overall. One more time, I want to say thank you to all the team. We keep fighting.”
Franco Pellizotti added:
“Today’s stage went more or less as we expected. Visma set a strong pace already from the first climb, and with the heat it became a very hard day. We tried to support the riders as much as possible with extra feeds during the stage, and I think the team did a very good job covering the feed zones.
The stage was fast, and in the final we had already spoken with Afonso this morning about not following every attack. The pace was too high, so he stayed on his own rhythm, and he managed it well. Damiano also supported him very well, and in the end we closed the day in a good position.
Of course, we no longer have the Maglia Rosa, but Afonso kept the Maglia Bianca and remains second overall. After a hard week, the riders will need some recovery now, and then we will look ahead to the third week.”
