Bahrain Victorious Shine on Two Fronts at Vuelta a Burgos and Tour de Pologne
# Bahrain Victorious Excels at Vuelta a Burgos and Tour de Pologne
Bahrain Victorious riders showcased exceptional talent and resilience today at the Vuelta a Burgos and Tour de Pologne, with strong results that set a promising tone for the races.
In the opening stage of the **Vuelta a Burgos**, Afonso Eulálio made an impressive debut by finishing third, while teammate Damiano Caruso secured fifth place. The stage spanned 204.6 km from Olmillos de Sasamón to Burgos (Castillo), marked as the longest of the edition and a challenging start on Spain’s undulating landscape. The finish culminated in a steep incline to the historic Castillo de Burgos, a known test of endurance, particularly after Santiago Buitrago’s 2022 triumph at the same venue.
During the stage, a six-man breakaway animated the race, with prominent riders like Dries De Bondt (DAT) and Carlos Garcia Pierna (BBH) attempting to maintain their lead but ultimately being caught as the peloton approached the final kilometers. A late solo attack by Samuel Fernandez (CJR) was swiftly neutralized, which set the stage for a dramatic finish.
Afonso Eulálio, reflecting on his performance, said, “It’s great to return to competition with a strong result, especially after the team placed their trust in me for this race and after all the hard work at the altitude training camp. I hope to keep this momentum going in the next stages.”
Bahrain Victorious’ Sports Director, Neil Stephens, praised the team’s strategy and execution: “Today we aimed to protect Damiano and position him well into the final kilometre,” he explained. “The team rode aggressively, trying to exploit the crosswinds… It’s a great result, putting both riders high in the GC, and a very positive start for us at Burgos.”
Meanwhile, at the **Tour de Pologne**, Antonio Tiberi sprinted to a commendable fourth place in stage 2, which spanned 149.4 km from Hotel Gołębiewski Karpacz to Karpacz. The uphill finish featured a challenging gradient of 8.2% in the closing kilometers, where a decisive attack from Paul Lapeira (DAT) allowed him to cross the line just ahead of the pack. Tiberi’s performance propelled him to fifth overall, just 12 seconds shy of the leader.
Expressing his feelings post-race, Tiberi noted, “I had good legs… on the last climb, I was at my limit but had decent sensations and gave everything to the line.” He also acknowledged the challenges faced throughout the course: “The final 10 km were chaotic… With the Vuelta a España approaching, I didn’t want to take unnecessary risks.”
With a strong showing in both races, Bahrain Victorious is poised for an exciting week ahead, aiming to build on their impressive performances.
