The outdoor press area at the Hotel Acapulco in Forte dei Marmi was uncharacteristically quiet on the rest day of the Giro d’Italia. While the pink jersey—the Maglia Rosa—usually commands a swarm of international media, the chairs remained largely empty. Aside from the local presence, only Gazzetta dello Sport arrived to question the man currently wearing the leader’s colors.
Afonso Eulálio, the 24-year-old Portuguese rider for Bahrain Victorious, is not yet the household name the cycling world typically reserves for a Grand Tour leader. He is not a polished superstar accustomed to the glare of the spotlights. Instead, he is a rider defined by a specific, gritty trait: Afonso Eulálio’s ability to suffer. It’s a quality that has seen him climb from the dirt tracks of mountain biking to the summit of the professional peloton.
Eulálio seized the pink jersey during a brutal fifth stage, a day defined by rain, hail showers, and treacherous, slippery roads. While more seasoned veterans focused on tactical efficiency and navigating the chaos of crashes, Eulálio leaned into the discomfort. His performance at Corno alle Scale and on the climbs leading to the blockhouse proved that his leadership is built on a foundation of physical resilience rather than mere tactical luck.
From Mountain Bikes to the Maglia Rosa
The rider’s affinity for hardship is not a recent development; it is baked into his origins. Growing up just outside Figueira da Foz, Eulálio spent his formative years navigating the rugged terrain of the Portuguese coast on a mountain bike. What began as a casual activity with friends after school quickly evolved into a competitive pursuit.
“I live just outside the town of Figueira da Foz. There’s a lot of good terrain for mountain biking,” Eulálio said, recalling how he transitioned from following friends into organized racing. His move to the road bike occurred just before the COVID-19 pandemic, a transition that saw him rapidly ascend the domestic ranks, earning top-10 finishes in national races and being recognized as the best young professional in his category.
His ability to thrive when conditions deteriorate has become his calling card. Whether facing the intense heat and dust of the World Cup road race in Rwanda, where he secured a respectable ninth place, or the freezing rain of the Giro, Eulálio remains unfazed. “I love it when it’s hard, when the conditions are harsh, when it’s hot or cold. I suffer too, but I like it,” he said.
This preference for deprivation provides a unique advantage. While more experienced riders often look for ways to minimize the impact of bad weather, Eulálio seems to find his rhythm within it. “I don’t have the experience of the other drivers yet. They know how to drive effectively when it’s not that hard. But when it’s hard, you just need the legs. Your body has to work. And that’s why I like that,” he noted.
This grit was evident during last year’s Giro, where he famously claimed the mountain prize on the Mortirolo. Although he missed out on a stage win at the time—finishing 10th in a breakaway that included Romain Bardet and was won by Isaac Del Toro—the performance signaled to the professional world that a new talent had arrived.
Navigating the Technical Gap
Despite his dominance in the mountains, the Giro presents a significant hurdle in the form of the upcoming tenth-stage time trial. For a rider whose physiology is optimized for steep gradients and high-altitude suffering, the flat, high-speed stretches of a traditional time trial are a daunting prospect.
Eulálio was candid about his lack of confidence heading into the discipline. On a scale of zero to ten, he rated his time-trialing capabilities at just a “two to three.” The specific profile of the upcoming stage—exceptionally flat with minimal technical turns—represents the most difficult scenario for his build.
“We find such and such time trials. Some are technically demanding, others have mountains. But this one is super flat, almost no curves, full throttle all the time—it’s the worst combination for skinny guys like me,” he said.
The stakes are high. While Eulálio admitted that his chances of holding off a rider of Jonas Vingegaard’s caliber are slim, his goals have shifted. He entered the race with the intention of serving as a domestique, a helper for his teammates. Now, with the pink jersey on his shoulders, the mission has changed.
“When I came to the Giro, I came as a helper. I thought my days would come in the mountains and the time trial would be a second day of rest. But now things have changed a little and I will fight to defend the jersey,” he announced.
A Rising Icon in Portugal
In his home country, Eulálio is already experiencing the weight of expectation. His rise has caught the attention of the highest levels of government; he even received a communication from the Portuguese President, though the young rider admitted he initially failed to answer because he did not recognize the number.
Beyond politics, his sporting idols continue to influence his journey. The legendary Rui Costa, whose 2013 World Cup victory originally inspired Eulálio to pick up a bike, has already reached out to him. There is also the looming aspiration of a connection with Cristiano Ronaldo, an idol the rider hopes to one day receive a message from if his current trajectory continues.
As the Giro moves into its decisive final weeks, the focus shifts back to the high peaks. Eulálio has already proven he can perform in the third week of a Grand Tour, as evidenced by his Mortirolo performance. While the peloton may attempt to box him out of breakaways, his presence in the general classification remains a primary storyline for the remainder of the race.
The next critical checkpoint for the Bahrain Victorious rider will be the tenth-stage time trial, where he must mitigate his losses before the race returns to the mountains.
Do you think Eulálio can defend the Maglia Rosa through the mountains? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
