Bianchi Returns to the Top of the Giro d’Italia
with Afonso Eulálio in the Maglia Rosa
Italian bicycle manufacturer Bianchi celebrated a major milestone at the 2026 Giro d’Italia after Afonso Eulálio claimed the prestigious Maglia Rosa following stage five of the race.
Riding for Team Bahrain Victorious, Eulálio delivered a standout performance by joining a decisive breakaway that managed to hold off the chasing peloton throughout the stage. Despite suffering a late crash during the finale, the young Portuguese rider fought back impressively to sprint to second place in Potenza aboard Bianchi’s high-performance Bianchi Oltre RC.
The result was enough to move Eulálio into the overall race lead, earning him both the iconic Maglia Rosa as leader of the General Classification and the Maglia Bianca awarded to the best young rider in the Giro d’Italia.
Following stage five, Eulálio now holds a commanding lead of two minutes and 51 seconds over stage winner Igor Arrieta in the overall standings.
The achievement marks a significant moment for both Team Bahrain Victorious and Bianchi, with the historic Italian cycling brand returning to the top of the Giro d’Italia for the first time since 2021.
Bianchi CEO Alberto Cavaggioni said:
There is a unique and powerful emotion in seeing the Maglia Rosa back on a Bianchi bike. This achievement, coming in our very first year of partnership with Team Bahrain Victorious, is a landmark moment that validates our shared vision and competitive spirit.
As an Italian brand that has helped write the history of the Giro d’Italia since the very beginning, leading this race again is a source of immense pride. Afonso’s incredible performance on the Oltre RC proves the racing soul of our technology and the success of our Reparto Corse philosophy.
This result is a tribute to our owner Salvatore Grimaldi, who always believed in us, and of course, our employees and dealers across the world. This achievement will motivate us to keep pushing the boundaries of innovation and to continue building the dream bikes of the future.
Team Bahrain Victorious rider Afonso Eulálio said:
I’m incredibly proud to wear the Maglia Rosa. It was an extremely hard day out, but also a very special one. Now that it’s on my shoulders, I’ll give everything on the road to fight for it and hold onto it for as long as possible.
It’s also really special to achieve this in our first season racing on Bianchi bikes. As such an iconic Italian brand, we know what it means to carry the Maglia Rosa.
Photo Credit – Sprint Cycling Agency
