Eulálio Takes The Maglia Rosa Into the Mountains
# Eulálio Holds Steady in Maglia Rosa Ahead of Alpine Challenges
In a tense yet controlled performance, Afonso Eulálio successfully retained both the Maglia Rosa and Maglia Bianca during Stage 13 of the Giro d’Italia, which covered 189 kilometers from Alessandria to Verbania. The stage, while largely flat, tested the riders with two short climbs towards the end before a fast descent into Verbania.
Alberto Bettiol from the XDS Astana Team clinched the stage victory, followed closely by Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) in second and Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step) in third. The day began with an aggressive 15-rider breakaway that built a significant lead, prompting the general classification (GC) teams to refrain from chasing, as no immediate threats to the overall standings emerged from the break.
“The priority was clear: keep Eulálio protected, avoid unnecessary risks, and bring both jerseys through another day,” the Bahrain Victorious team declared, highlighting their tactical approach. Despite facing an early puncture, Eulálio was quickly brought back to the peloton and remained shielded by his teammates throughout the stage.
As the riders approached the finale, Bettiol made a decisive move on the climb to Ungiasca, overtaking Leknessund and maintaining his lead through the descent and flat run to the finish. Behind him, the GC contenders arrived together, leading to no substantial shifts in the overall standings.
Reflecting on the day, Eulálio stated: “Today was perfect for us. We kept the jerseys, the Maglia Rosa and the Maglia Bianca, and the team did a perfect job again… I hope the team is enjoying these days like I am because what we are living now is incredible for me.”
Franco Pellizotti, Sports Director for Bahrain Victorious, added his insights: “Today was a super fast stage, but the riders managed the breakaway pretty well and in the end we saved the day… Tomorrow we are expecting a very hard stage, probably one of the hardest of this Giro.”
Tomorrow’s Stage 14 takes the race from Aosta to Pila over a challenging 133 kilometers, featuring more than 4,200 meters of climbing and a summit finish that is anticipated to reignite the GC battle. Eulálio heads into this rigorous stage still confidently leading both the general classification and the young rider classification.
