Narváez storms to Ecuadorian record Giro stage win as Eulálio retains lead

CHIAVARI, Italy (AP) — Jhonatan Narváez became the most successful Ecuadorian stage winner at the Giro d’Italia when the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider triumphed on Wednesday, while Afonso Eulálio remained in the overall lead.

Narváez’s victory on stage 11 was his third at this year’s race and fifth overall in the Giro, surpassing 2019 champion Richard Carapaz.

Narváez edged out Enric Mas at the end of the 195-kilometer (121-mile) route from Porcari to Chiavari that featured three categorized climbs. Diego Ulissi was third, leading the remnants of the breakaway across the line, 11 seconds behind.

“All day, all day,” Narváez responded with a smile when asked what was the most difficult part of the stage. “It was a tough stage, especially because we missed the first breakaway and then the second one as well. After two hours of hard racing, I tried to bridge across directly to the front of the race.

"I managed to hold on in the climbs, because I realized Enric was the strongest. I was at my limit because we went full gas all day, but I managed to pull it off once again.”

Narváez and Mas hadn’t got in the initial breakaway but managed to make it across before the climbs. They then attacked on the final ascent, which was steep but uncategorized, and worked well together on the descent before opening up the sprint 200 meters from the line.

The peloton rolled across the line more than three minutes behind Narváez, with Eulálio preserving his 27-second advantage over Jonas Vingegaard.

Thymen Arensman is third overall, 1:57 behind Eulálio.

Thursday’s 12th stage is a 175-kilometer (109-mile) route from Imperia to Novi Ligure that is mainly flat along the coast before heading inland and over two lower-category climbs.

The 109th men’s Giro ends on May 31 in Rome.

The women’s Giro runs from May 30-June 7 with Italian rider Elisa Longo Borghini the defending champion.

AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling

Ecuador's Manuel Jhonatan Narvaez celebrates winning the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Porcari to Chiavari, Italy, Wednesday May 20, 2026. (Gianmattia D'Alberto/LaPresse via AP)

Ecuador's Manuel Jhonatan Narvaez celebrates winning the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Porcari to Chiavari, Italy, Wednesday May 20, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Riders pedal during the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Porcari to Chiavari, Italy, Wednesday May 20, 2026. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Riders pedal during the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Porcari to Chiavari, Italy, Wednesday May 20, 2026. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)

Portugal's Afonso Oliveira Eulálio wears the pink jersey of the race overall leader ahead of the 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Porcari to Chiavari, Italy, Wednesday May 20, 2026. (Gianmattia D'Alberto/LaPresse via AP)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. homered for a third straight game — hitting a pair of solo shots — to lead the Atlanta Braves over the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 on Saturday night.

Acuña homered to right-center field off Brady Singer (2-5) to tie it at 2 in the third inning. The 2023 NL MVP capped the scoring with a two-out shot in the ninth off Lyon Richardson. He also stole two bases to help the Braves become the first team to 40 wins.

Jorge Mateo hit his third homer — to the second deck in left field off Singer for a 3-2 lead in the fifth. Matt Olson followed with his 16th — off Brock Burke — to make it 4-2 in the seventh.

Martín Pérez (3-3) allowed two runs and four hits and walked three in five innings to earn the win. Three relievers each pitched a scoreless inning before Raisel Iglesias closed it with a perfect ninth for his 10th save.

Ozzie Albies hit a ground-rule double leading off the second before scoring on a single by Mike Yastrzemski to put Atlanta up 1-0.

Spencer Steer drew a one-out walk from Pérez to extend his on-base streak to 18 games and JJ Bleday hit his ninth home run and second in as many days to put the Reds up 2-1 after two innings.

De La Cruz answered with a one-out triple, but was stranded when Pérez retired Sal Stewart on a grounder to third before striking out Eugenio Suárez to keep it 2-2.

Singer gave up three runs and four hits and four walks in five innings. He has allowed eight home runs in his last 12 innings.

The Braves improved to 23-9 on the road — best in the majors.

Braves RHP Spencer Strider (3-0, 3.46) starts Sunday as Atlanta aims for a sweep of the Reds, who'll start LHP Nick Lodolo (1-1, 5.57).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias, right, celebrates with catcher Chadwick Tromp after winning a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brady Singer throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. watches his solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Martin Perez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. reacts as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)