“I never thought I'd keep the jersey" - Afonso Eulálio in disbelief as holds Giro lead after brutal time trial

Afonso Eulálio stays in pink at the Giro d’Italia and not even he expected to come out of the stage 10 time trial still leading the overall. The Portuguese cyclist admitted, however, that Jonas Vingegaard, the main favorite for overall victory, was not at his best in the individual effort between Viareggio and Massa.

“I did what I never thought I’d do, which was end up keeping the pink jersey. Of course I know, and I’m also aware, that maybe Vingegaard wasn’t on one of his best days,” acknowledged the Bahrain - Victorious rider, in comments sent to Lusa news agency by the team’s press office.

In the 42-kilometer race against the clock, won by Italian Filippo Ganna (Netcompany INEOS) in 45:53, with teammate Thymen Arensman and Rémi Cavagna joining him on the podium. Eulálio finished 41st, 4:57 behind the winner. The Portuguese lost 1:57 to Vingegaard but managed to defend the overall lead, keeping a 27-second advantage over the Dane from Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Vingegaard was only 13th, at 3 minutes, losing time to riders such as the aforementioned Thymen Arensman (1:07), Derek Gee (45 seconds) and Ben O'Connor (19 seconds).

The result ended up surprising the pink jersey himself, who was only beaten within his own team by Alec Segaert and Damiano Caruso, as he’s used to struggling in this type of effort. “I think I never really believed it, because my time trials are always very bad. I almost always finish near the back. I thought there was really nothing to be done, it was about suffering to maybe keep the white jersey [best young rider] or fight for the GC, but I never thought I’d keep the [pink] jersey,” he confessed. He not only kept pink, but also defended white, with his closest rival, now Giulio Pellizzari, at 3:36.

After completing the longest time trial of his career, the rider from Figueira da Foz was still in disbelief with the stage outcome. “I really wasn’t expecting” to continue leading the Giro, he admitted, on a particularly demanding day from a physical standpoint.

“We’re going to keep fighting for it [maglia rosa]. Today for me was pfffff... I think it’s harder to suffer in a 40-kilometer time trial than to do a 40-kilometer climb,” he compared.

Despite the growing pressure from Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Eulálio continues to lead the general classification and is also comfortably in the fight for the white jersey. Dutchman Thymen Arensman, second in the time trial, climbed to third overall, now 1:57 behind the Portuguese.

The Bahrain - Victorious rider believes that wearing the pink jersey has given him extra motivation during these days in the lead. “I think the [pink jersey] is what has given me more confidence and, let’s say, more strength,” he said.

On Wednesday, Eulálio will line up in pink again for the 195-kilometer stage between Porcari and Chiavari, a rolling day that should see the breakaway take the win, extending a historic run for Portuguese cycling.

Since taking the lead after stage five, he has already become the second Portuguese rider with the most days in pink, only behind João Almeida, who led the Giro for 15 days in 2020.