Giro d’Italia 2026 Stage 5 recap: Igor Arrieta wins sodden stage and Afonso Eulalio seizes pink after both crash in crazy finale

Giro d'Italia
Stage 5 | Semi mountain | Men | 13.05.2026
Finished
Praia a MarePotenza
1
I. Arrieta
Spain
ESP
2
A. Eulálio
Portugal
POR
3
T. Silva
Uruguay
URU
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17:51
Article
17:51
Article
ARRIETA WINS BONKERS STAGE 5 AS EULALIO CRASHES INTO PINK
Spain’s Igor Arrieta made it two wins in as many days for UAE Team Emirates-XRG after pipping breakaway companion Afonso Eulalio (Bahrain-Victorious) in a nail-biting and error-strewn finale to a sodden day in the Giro d’Italia.
Both escapees hit the deck in the last 15km of the undulating 203km stage through southern Italy which played out almost entirely under torrential rain.
Arrieta’s initial crash on a slippery corner looked to have handed the initiative to Eulalio, but the Portuguese climber let his rival back into contention after himself skidding out inside the final 5km on the outskirts of Potenza.
With the maglia rosa of Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) riding over seven minutes back in a depleted main group of all the GC favourites, Eulalio looked set on both a pink jersey and a first ever professional win when Arrieta rode off the course and up a slip-road with 2km remaining.
But the Spanish climber held his nerve and battled back ahead of the final rise to the line – drawing level with his opponent in the closing moments before pulling off the most dramatic and unlikely of wins in the race’s recent history.
Eulalio took consolation by securing a first ever pink jersey for Bahrain-Victorious – turning the team's fortunes around after the withdrawal of their leader Santiago Buitrago on the opening weekend in Bulgaria.
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Crash, wrong turn, near wipe-out... still wins - Is this cycling’s wildest finish?

Video credit: TNT Sports

Eulalio leads Arrieta by 2:51 in the new-look general classification with Italy’s Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana) – who took third on the stage – up to third place in the standings.
Overnight leader Ciccone drops to sixth place at 6:12 after what he described as ”one of the hardest days of my life on the bike”.
Eulalio and Arrieta were part of a strong 13-man move that came together in the opening half of a stage beset by biblical storms and hail.
With their advantage coming down to under two minutes ahead of the Cat.2 Monte Grande di Viggiano with 55km remaining, Arrieta struck out alone in pursuit of glory. Eulalio soon joined him and, as the gap over the main field grew, the pair combined to devastating effect.
And despite both riders coming a cropper in the finale, the spoils were shared – with Arrieta taking a maiden WorldTour win and Eulalio the fabled maglia rosa.
Thursday’s Stage 6 from Paestum to Napoli reopens the doors to the sprinters with the likes of Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets) and double stage winner Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) expected to do battle on a slightly ramped finish straight.
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Highlights: Arrieta survives crash and wrong turn to win stage for the ages

Video credit: TNT Sports


17:29
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17:29
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CICCONE: ‘IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST DAYS OF MY CAREER’
And finally, a brief word from our outgoing pink jersey from Lidl-Trek, who won't be forgetting his day on the race's summit in a long time - even if his maglia rosa was not really on display...
At the end, I don’t think it was the best day to wear my first maglia rosa. It was one of the hardest and most nervous days of my life on the bike – especially because of the weather, which was crazy. We had everything – mostly rain. It was really cold. But it’s like this.

17:19
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17:19
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AFONSO EULALIO: ‘I REALLY WANTED TO WIN THE STAGE’
After becoming only the third Portuguese rider to take the pink jersey, Afonso Eulalio was all smiles during his interview despite missing out on a stage win that would have almost seen team-mate Damiano Caruso sign up for another year in the saddle…
”It’s incredible to wear this pink jersey – but the whole day was incredible. We’ll need to check what happens in the next days.
”It’s true that without Santiago [Buitrago] it has opened some chances but this day is also for Santiago, because he’s not with us.
”In the final, if I did it all without the crash, it would have been better. But it was a super, super hard day – the climbs, the weather. Some moments I felt like I wasn’t the best – but I think all the guys were the same and, in the final, I think I was quite good."
On the steep climb, with 50km to go, I realised [I could take the pink jersey] and so I went all in. But I also really wanted to win the stage because I had a bet with [team-mate] Damiano Caruso – if I win two stages, he will sign for one more year [at Bahrain Victorious].

17:04
Jersey - Pink (Giro)
17:04
Jersey - Pink (Giro)
THE NEW TOP 10 AFTER STAGE 5
So, we have five new riders at the top of the general classification after today’s madcap day on the Giro.
1. Afonso Eulalio (Bahrain Victorious)
2. Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +2:51
3. Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana) +3:34
4. Andrea Raccagni Noviero (Soudal Quick-Step) +3:39
5. Johannes Kulset (Uno-X Mobility) +5:17
6. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) +6:12
7. Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +6:16
8. Florian Stork (Tudor Pro Cycling) ”
9. Egan Bernal (Netcompany INEOS) ”
10. Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS) +6:18
16:59
Time
16:59
Time
PELOTON COME HOME OVER SEVEN MINUTES DOWN
Harold Lopez (XDS Astana) leads the peloton over the line 7’13” down to end Giulio Ciccone’s short reign in pink. There were only around 32 riders in that group, including the likes of Vingegaard, Pellizzari, Hindley, Bernal, Arensman and Ciccone…
16:57
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16:57
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IGOR ARRIETA: ‘WE BOTH DESERVED TO WIN’
The Spanish stage winner – a second for UAE Team Emirates in as many days – looked, and sounded, broken in his post-race interview.
”I don’t know what to say. I’m really happy to achieve this victory – it means a lot to me. Because of the crash and because all my team-mates went home. Also, the Giro is special for me.
”I didn’t think it was lost [after I crashed]. I knew I needed to try to the end. It was the hardest stage I have done. You never know, I was completely empty in the last kilometres, but I knew Eulalio was the same. We both deserved the victory but, in the end, I have it.
”When I lost Eulalio with 2km to go, I thought it was impossible. But then I kept pushing and saw that he wasn’t going faster than me. When I took his wheel I was like, f***, maybe I can win – and it was like this. Today was a good day – in the end, it was the perfect day.”
16:48
Podium
16:48
Podium
STAGE 5 RESULT – TOP 10
1. Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
2. Afonso Eulalio (Bahrain Victorious) +02
3. Guillermo Thomas Silva (XDS Astana) +51
4. Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) +1:29
5. Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana) +1:30
6. Gianmarco Garofoli (Soudal Quick-Step) ”
7. Koen Bouwman (Jayco-AlUla) +3:11
8. Johannes Kulset (Uno-X Mobility) +3:13
9. Andrea Raccagni Noviero (Soudal Quick-Step) +3:29
10. Ludovico Crescioli (Team Polti VisitMalta) +4:42
16:44
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16:44
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THIRD PLACE FOR SILVA
The former pink jersey Guillermo Silva crossed the line 51 seconds down to take third place before the rest arrive in dribs and drabs. We will then wait for another seven minutes before Giulio Ciccone and the GC riders, who threw in the sodden towel today with around 50km remaining.

16:41
Jersey - Pink (Giro)
16:41
Jersey - Pink (Giro)
PINK JERSEY FOR AFONSO EULALIO!
There’s a huge consolation for the man who took second place today, with the Bahrain Victorious rider guaranteed the pink jersey.
Eulalio looked a certain winner when Arrieta crashed with 14km to go, then he crashed himself with 6.5km to go, then went clear again with 2km to go when Arrieta rode off course. But it was not meant to be – he had nothing left in the tank – and he will have to settle for just the pink jersey today.
16:39
Winner
16:39
Winner
VICTORY FOR IGOR ARRIETA!
What an utterly bonkers finale! The Spaniard must have been running on adrenaline and fury because he draws level with his opponent and then zips past to take what will be the most emotional win of his career, surely. What a finale. What a day!

16:37
Last 01 km
16:37
Last 01 km
FINAL KILOMETRE
Arrieta refused to throw in the towel and he’s closing in on the uphill approach to the line – and he’s digging deep and getting closer and closer…
16:36
Highlight
16:36
Highlight
2KM TO GO: ARRIETA GOES OFF COURSE!
Oh no! Yet more drama! Arrieta overcooks a corner and is forced off onto a closed off slip road. He has to stop, turn around, then rejoin the race – and that will surely hand the win to Eulalio. Just when we thought we were going to get a two-way battle for the stage spoils, yet another curveball changes the complexion of the finale.
16:34
16:34
3KM TO GO: EULALIO STILL IN FRONT
Arrieta won’t come through and so it’s Eulalio who takes the reins on this nervous, twisting descent – avoiding the lines and grates.
16:32
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16:32
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4KM TO GO: DUO PREPARES FOR SHOWDOWN
Both Eulalio and Arrieta discard their gilets in preparation for the final sprint. They’re still on the uphill drag into Potenza, with the Spaniard sitting in his opponent’s wheel as they go over the top. It looks like the rain has stopped and the sun is now out, which is a bonus – although the roads are still slippery and sodden.
16:30
Last 05 km
16:30
Last 05 km
5KM TO GO: WHAT ABOUT THE CHASERS?
Eulalio and Arrieta are reunited on the climb and are taking every corner – even the uphill ones – much more gingerly. They both took big knocks in those falls – and it remains to be seen if they’ll be caught by the chasers behind…
Arrieta is sandbagging Eulalio now, and it looks like the upper hand is with the Spaniard because the man destined for pink looks to be in some discomfort from his fall.
16:27
Fall (single)
16:27
Fall (single)
6.5KM TO GO: EULALIO HITS THE DECK!
Oh no! And now it’s the Portuguese riders turn to go down. And just like that, the race turns again. He skidded on a left-hand bend and slid into the barriers. He needs a new bike and will soon be caught by Arrieta ahead of the last punchy uphill section before the finish. Wow.
16:25
Last 10 km
16:25
Last 10 km
10KM TO GO: EULALIO CLEAN SWEEP INCOMING
That could have been a maiden WorldTour win for Igor Arrieta – and his team second success in as many days. Instead, it looks like Eulalio, the 24-year-old Portuguese rider, will take his first ever pro win today – and, with it, the pink jersey. He has 30 seconds on Arrieta and 7’40” on the pack.
16:21
Fall (single)
16:21
Fall (single)
14KM TO GO: CRASH! ARRIETA DOWN!
The gaps were growing for the two leaders and then the Spaniard hit the deck on a tight corner. Just moments before, on the previous bend, Eulalio overcooked it and had to readjust as he followed Arrieta – then the Spaniard lost his front wheel and skidded into the barriers. That will change the complexion of this finale. Will Eulalio sit up and wait, or will be push on for the stage win and pink jersey?
16:14
Last 20 km
16:14
Last 20 km
20KM TO GO: ONTO THE DESCENT
Eulalio and Arrieta have 1’05” on the chasing quartet, 2’58” on the next trio, and 6’07” on the pink jersey group. It’s still raining cats and dogs and this stage is far from over. It’s suddenly got really dark – and you wonder what the knock-on effect will be, all this rain and cold, for the riders in the pack. We’ve seen Ciccone and Gall struggling in these conditions, and Vingegaard also looked thoroughly miserable earlier today on the climb.
16:03
Sprint
16:03
Sprint
28KM TO GO: EULALIO WINS RED BULL KM SPRINT
The Portuguese rider adds another six bonus seconds to his time after rolling through the Red Bull KM sprint ahead of Arrieta. The chasers – led by Milesi – went through around a minute back, so they’re not yet fully out of it, especially given there are two Astana riders there in Scaroni and Silva.