Vingegaard in control at Giro after first week

Dane was not in a winning position after two summit finishes, but remains favourite for pink

- Words: Adam Becket Photos: Zac Williams/SWpix.com

It was not Jonas Vingegaard who was in pink at the end of the first week of the Giro d'Italia, but Afonso Eulálio. The Portuguese Bahrain Victorious rider mastered the chaotic stage five to Potenza to claim the race lead, and managed to hold it through two summit finishes, on stages seven and nine.

However, it is Vingegaard who is thought to be in control of the race after nine days, with two stage wins on the race's first two summit finishes, and significant time over most of his general classification rivals heading into the second week. Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) is 35 seconds behind, while Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) is the next closest, already over two minutes down.

Eulálio still had over two minutes on the Visma-Lease a Bike rider ahead of Tuesday, but has never finished higher than 15th overall at a WorldTour race, and that was at last year's Tour Down Under. In 2025. Eulálio has finished 55th at the UAE Tour and 46th at the Volta a Catalunya.