"I couldn't even feel the pain in my legs with so many people shouting" - Afonso Eulálio shines at Passo do Mortirolo
Cycling
Afonso Eulálio experienced the most remarkable moment of his Grand Tour debut on Wednesday. The young Portuguese cyclist from Bahrain - Victorious was the star of the very tough 17th stage of the 2025 Giro d'Italia as he attacked on the ascent to the iconic Passo Mortirolo, crowning him solo in front of an effusive crowd that pushed him all the way to the top.
"It turned out to be quite a tough climb, at the end I was carrying my legs and then all that crowd shouting... I almost didn't feel the pain in my legs with so many people shouting," said the 23-year-old from Figueiredo, speaking to Lusa news agency.
Eulálio was part of the day's escape on the 155 kilometers between San Michele all'Adige and Bormio, on a day marked by the accumulated harshness of the Alps and the presence of big names like Romain Bardet. But on the most emblematic climb of the Corsa Rosa, it was the Portuguese rider who took centre stage, attacking from afar and leaving all his companions behind.
"I ended up doing something that shouldn't have been necessary, which was attacking from so far away. I was a bit far from the finish line and the route after the descent was very conducive to working together rather than going it alone," he analyzed, critically and lucidly.
Afonso Eulálio next to the big loser of the 16th stage, Juan Ayuso
On the long and technical descent of Mortirolo, he was eventually caught by an initial chasing group and later by the overall men, around 10 kilometers from the finish line. Even so, he crossed the finish line in 10th position, 56 seconds behind the stage winner and overall leader, Isaac Del Toro of UAE Team Emirates - XRG.
"Victory would have been perfect, but it didn't work out. The overall riders caught me," he lamented, without losing the smile of someone who had produced an excellent display.
At the end of the stage, Eulálio stood on the podium as the king of the Mortirolo, a symbolic prize for an unforgettable day. In a Giro in which he has been working tirelessly for Antonio Tiberi, the Portuguese took advantage of the opportunity given to him by the team to show his worth in the third week of the race.
"Of course it's going very well. I've had some good days, both helping the team and now I've been given the opportunity in the last week. I think I've reacted well to everything I've been asked to do. The team ended up having a bad day or two with Tiberi, who is out, but we have Damiano Caruso in the fight," he explained.
The only national representative in the 108th edition of the Giro, Afonso Eulálio climbed to 69th place overall today and doesn't hide his desire to try and make a break for it again and who knows what else.
"We'll see how my legs feel over the next few days and if the team gives me another chance, because it doesn't just depend on me," he concluded ambitiously.
Remember the moment Afonso Eulálio passed through the Passo del Mortirolo below.
🏔️ 💙 And first atop the Passo del Mortirolo is 🇵🇹 Afonso Eulalio!
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 28, 2025
The Portuguese rider has been joined in the downhill by @cattamat and @romainbardet! #GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/dOjRYJcULu
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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