Eulálio Keeps Maglia Bianca After a Hot Day in Switzerland
# Eulálio Retains Maglia Bianca Amidst Swiss Heat in Giro d’Italia Stage 16
In a gripping display of endurance and stamina, Afonso Eulálio held onto the prestigious Maglia Bianca following a challenging Stage 16 at the Giro d’Italia, navigating the demanding 113km route from Bellinzona to Carì. This stage, staged entirely in Switzerland, presented riders with an arduous climb totaling 2,928 metres of elevation, compounded by soaring temperatures nearing 30°C, making hydration and energy management pivotal for the cyclists.
Jonas Vingegaard from Team Visma | Lease a Bike clinched the stage victory, showcasing an explosive attack on the final climb that propelled him to finish solo. Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) secured second place, while Jai Hindley (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe) rounded out the top three. Behind them, the general classification (GC) group fractured on the steep ascent to Carì, with several competitors losing critical minutes in the final kilometers.
Eulálio, racing for Bahrain Victorious, maintained his composure to finish 11th, crossing the line 3 minutes and 4 seconds behind Vingegaard. This performance solidifies his position in the overall standings, where he now sits fifth, 5 minutes and 40 seconds behind the leader in the Maglia Rosa competition, all while successfully defending his lead in the young rider classification.
After the race, Eulálio expressed his satisfaction, stating, “One more day we keep the white jersey, and that is super important for us. It gives me something extra, some power to continue fighting every day. I think I’m still not ready for the podium or those big places in a Grand Tour. The riders in front are super strong, and I’m just happy to share the podium with Jonas for so many days already. We just keep fighting.”
With his 2 minute and 17 second cushion over Davide Piganzoli (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and 4 minutes and 23 seconds over Mathys Rondel (Tudor Pro Cycling Team), the young rider remains optimistic: “Today we had a super hard climb in the final. I had good support, with the guys helping me and giving me motivation in the last part. I’m super happy to keep the jersey.”
Team Bahrain Victorious sports director Franco Pellizotti commended the team’s efforts, noting, “Today was a short but very demanding stage, especially in the final. The pace was high from the start to the finish… He was dropped early, but he kept his own pace, stayed calm, and came back close to riders like Rondel and Storer in the end. We are happy with this performance.”
As the Giro d’Italia continues, attention turns to the forthcoming Stage 17, where the race will traverse from Cassano d’Adda to Andalo, presenting another long and pivotal challenge in the final week of this prestigious event.
