Eulálio Retains Maglia Rosa on Blockhaus

# Eulálio Holds Firm as Maglia Rosa after Grueling Stage at Blockhaus

Afonso Eulálio successfully retained the prestigious Maglia Rosa following Stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia, overcoming one of the race’s toughest challenges on the summit finish at Blockhaus. The stage, spanning an arduous 244 km from Formia to Blockhaus, marked the longest of this year’s Giro and tested the riders with its tough mountainous terrain. Riders traversed the scenic southern Lazio coastline, passing through Sperlonga and Gaeta before cutting inland towards Abruzzo, culminating in a brutal ascent that averaged 8.4% over approximately 13 km.

As he began his second day in the leader’s jersey, Eulálio faced a more daunting challenge. The team’s main objective was to defend his lead during this key mountain finish. “The team did a perfect job throughout the day, for almost 250 kilometres,” Eulálio commented after the stage. “In the end, we survived and kept the Maglia Rosa, which was our objective for the day.”

During the initial phases of the race, a small breakaway group formed but struggled to maintain their lead as the serious climbers emerged ahead of the Blockhaus ascent. Eulálio’s team worked strategically to protect him throughout the demanding route. When the real action began, Team Visma – Lease a Bike intensified the pace, with Jonas Vingegaard launching a decisive attack with 5.5 km remaining. Eulálio, maintaining a steady rhythm, finished the day 15th, 2:55 behind stage winner Vingegaard, thus preserving his overall lead by 3:17.

“Maybe he went a little too deep and then dropped when he was already red,” said Sports Director Franco Pellizotti about Eulálio’s performance on the climb. “He is still new to this type of race and to riding with the leader’s jersey, and I believe he understood a lot for the next days.”

As the race moves forward, riders prepare for Stage 8, another demanding leg from Chieti to Fermo. Eulálio, also leading the young rider classification, remains determined to defend his title, knowing well that Vingegaard and other competitors pose significant threats as they head into the next challenges.

“Everyone knows Jonas is one of the favorites, but we have to keep fighting,” Eulálio concluded, highlighting his resolve as the Giro d’Italia continues to deliver high-stakes action.