Jhonatan Narváez reclaims the maglia ciclamino at the Giro d’Italia

On stage 17 of the Giro d’Italia, Jhonatan Narváez reclaimed the lead of the points classification for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. In doing so, the Ecuadorian national champion will pull back on the maglia ciclamino that he had carried earlier in the race.

Taking maximum points at the intermediate sprint on Wednesday’s stage, Narváez continued his unlikely bid for the ciclamino points jersey, and unseated Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) from the classification lead. The Ecuadorian’s charge for purple has been built on three memorable stage wins and snaffling important points on some of the race’s harder days.

Continuing in that trend, Narváez made his way into the day’s breakaway on stage 17, supported by his temmates Jan Christen and Igor Arrieta. Together, the trio worked steadfast to bring Narváez to the front of the race as the intermediate sprint approached. This point was late in the day, and it was thanks to Arrieta that the UAE Team Emirates-XRG trio closed down a dangerous attack.

With this leading group caught, Narváez pounced and took the maximum points on offer at the sprint. In doing so, the three-time stage winner at this year’s race is now back into the lead of the points classification. He will pull on the maglia ciclamino once more on stage 18.

With that objective secured, the Emirati squad looked to take its fifth stage victory of the race. Marking the right moves from the breakaway and showing his legs when it counted, Arrieta proved the strongest of the three, and eventually finished just a few seconds down on the stage winner, Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost).

As Arrieta placed in sixth on the day, Narváez took ninth. It was a grand day out for the UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates, and the team can now look forward to continuing its defence of the points classification through the race’s final week. Speaking after the finish, Narváez reflected on an opportunity that was too good to turn down.

Narváez: “It was a great opportunity to be honest, to take the stage. But it is cycling, and I don’t know how many guys were in the breakaway, but I am happy with my day, and also with my Giro. Now, we will focus on this maglia.

“My two teammates helped me to do the intermediate sprint, and then we raced until the last climb. I am not thinking about Rome yet, we will go day by day. We know that Paul Magnier is very good, so we need to go day by day.”

Giro d’Italia 2026 stage 17 results:

1. Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost) 4:41:33

2. Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X MObility) +3″

3. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) +6″

6. Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +14″

9. Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +1:44

Giro d’Italia 2026 general classification after stage 17:

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) 66:57:14

2. Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) +4:03

3. Thymen Arensman (Netcompany Ineos) +4:27

Giro d’Italia 2026 points classification after stage 17:

1. Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 157 points

2. Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) 145 points

3. Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) 79 points