Eulálio Seals Maglia Bianca as Bahrain Victorious Close Unforgettable Giro in Rome

# Afonso Eulálio Triumphs with Maglia Bianca as Bahrain Victorious Celebrates a Historic Giro d’Italia Finish in Rome

Team Bahrain Victorious concluded the 2026 Giro d’Italia with a heartfelt celebration in Rome, as Afonso Eulálio clinched the Maglia Bianca and secured an impressive sixth overall. This marked the end of a three-week journey filled with challenges and remarkable achievements for the team.

The final stage, a 131km circuit through the historic streets of Rome, was characterized by a thrilling sprint finish, ultimately won by Jonathan Milan [Lidl-Trek], followed closely by Giovanni Lonardi [Team Polti VisitMalta] and Paul Penhöet [Groupama-FDJ].

Reflecting on the race, Eulálio expressed his gratitude, saying, “This Giro is something I will never forget. After such a hard final week… I was not feeling at my best… the whole team believed in me, even when I had doubts, and that gave me a lot of strength to keep fighting until the end.” He emphasized the support from teammate Damiano Caruso, who stayed by his side through the toughest moments. “To finish this Giro with the Maglia Bianca… is something very special. We suffered a lot during these three weeks, but we arrived in Rome with something beautiful for the team.”

Bahrain Victorious faced a significant change early in the race after losing Santiago Buitrago, the initial GC leader. This setback prompted the team to adapt their strategies, resulting in an aggressive approach that earned multiple most-combative prizes throughout the Giro.

Team director Franco Pellizotti commented, “It has been an amazing Giro for us… After Stage 2, when we lost Santiago, we had to change our objectives. In the end, we can be very happy and proud of the results we achieved and the way the riders kept fighting every day.”

The team celebrated several notable stage results: Eulálio’s second-place finish in Potenza, Alec Segaert’s victory in Novi Ligure, Caruso’s third in Andalo, and Edoardo Zambanini’s second in Pieve di Soligo. These performances highlighted this Giro as one of the most pivotal in Bahrain Victorious’ history.

For Caruso, the conclusion of this Giro held personal significance as it was his final appearance in the race. He noted, “I could never have imagined a more beautiful ending to my story with the Giro d’Italia… these have been three weeks full of intense emotions… receiving the most combative rider prize… being able to celebrate together with Afonso and his Maglia Bianca victory” was a fitting way to wrap up his illustrious career in the Giro.

As Bahrain Victorious leaves Rome, the team’s journey through resilience, belief, and collective strength stands out as a legacy not simply of results, but of the bonds forged throughout the arduous three weeks.