"I don't really know what to say" - Shocked Igor Arrieta holds back tears after dramatic Giro d'Italia stage triumph
Cycling
Igor Arrieta was in disbelief after claiming his first Grand Tour victory in dramatic fashion at the Giro d'Italia. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider crashed with over 14 kilometers to go, rejoined Afonso Eulálio at the front, overshot a corner in the final two kilometers before an inspirational comeback to take victory.
With victory seemingly slipping from his grasp twice, Arrieta remarkably recovered to deny Eulálio, who himself takes the Maglia Rosa from Giulio Ciccone in a day dominated by heavy rain as the breakaway fought for victory, with the pair the last remaining members fighting for the win.
"I don't really know what to say. I'm really happy to achieve this victory," an emotional Arrieta said after the race, holding back tears and visibly shocked by a dramatic finale.
Jhonatan Narváez won stage 4, and now Arrieta brings a second consecutive triumph to a UAE that lost three riders due to the mass fall on the second stage. "Because of the crash, all our teammates went home," he added.
Arrieta's rollercoaster of emotions
The Spaniard joined the breakaway alongside his teammate Jhonatan Narváez on a rainy day where the breakaway was ultimately given the freedom in the finale. The Spaniard kicked off the action in the decisive sequence of climbs; and in Viggiano, only an isolated Eulálio would be able to catch up with him.
But the UAE rider's hopes of victory looked to fade with 14 kilometers to go as he crashed on a wet descent, losing around 30 seconds that looked to end his chances at success on the approach to Potenza.
"I don't think it was lost, [I thought] I need to try until the end. After the hard stage, you never know and I was completely in the last kilometers. I knew Eulalio is the same. Both [of us] deserve the victory."
Eulálio too crashed with roughly 6 kilometers to go, leading for Arrieta to catch the Bahrain-Victorious rider, but all seemed lost as live pictures showed Arrieta dramatically turning around after overshooting a corner and then almost crashing on road markings with over a kilometer to go. But the Spanish rider fought back to his wheel in the dying meters and rounded him to complete a sensational comeback.
"When I lost Eulálio in the last two kilometers I was like it's not possible. But then I kept pushing and I seen he cannot go faster than me. Then when I took his wheel it was like f**k maybe I can win."
It's been a tale of two Giro d'Italia's for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who lost three important riders after two stages, but have re-focused their approach since and made it two wins in a row following Jhonatan Narváez's victory on Tuesday.
Arrieta took the opportunity to thank his family and partner after a 'perfect' day: "I was coming to help, to have some opportunities and I think today was a good day - in the end it was the perfect day. I want to say thank you to my girlfriend, to my family, because they were always there. Thank you to all."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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