After taking the lead of the Giro d'Italia on Mount Etna, Joao Almeida (Detunink-Quick Step) thought he might be in trouble on the mountain stages, but the 22-year-old's fears proved to be completely misplaced for the second time.

On a freezing cold stage 9 with more than 4,000 meters of climbing, the Portuguese racer suffered but stayed with Maria Rosa on the final climb to Roccaraso.

Almeida lost 18 seconds to the strongest overall contenders Jacob Fuglsang (Astana ProTeam) and Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb), but was able to hold on to his closest contenders for the win, Vincenzo Nibali (Trek-Segafredo) and overall classification Pello Bilbao (Bahrain McLaren), the closest overall contender, was only four seconds behind.

As a result, Almeida's lead over Kelderman was reduced to 30 seconds and Bilbao's to 39 seconds. However, at least in the easier stages of the first half of the second week, the time difference remains quite significant for Almeida.

Almeida attributed his success in resisting as race leader more to the excellent support he received from his team than any personal achievement.

"I really appreciate the team. If it wasn't for them, I would have lost the jersey for sure," Almeida told reporters.

"Fifty or sixty kilometers from the finish, I thought it was over. But I kept fighting for my teammates.

Next week's Giro d'Italia will feature stages 11 and 13 before the time trial next Saturday. However, stage 10 from Lanciano to Tortoreto has a number of punchy, short climbs, and stage 12 around Cesenatico is also very challenging.

"I hope I can keep the jersey, but there could be a crosswind and anything could happen.

Almeida extended another notable record on this pink day, as the Portuguese rider who led the longest time in a Grand Tour. This is two stages more than the Portuguese great Joaquin Agostinho, who led the Vuelta a España overall for five days in 1976.

Portuguese cycling had much to celebrate in Roccaraso as Almeida and fellow countryman Ruben Guerreiro (EF Pro Cycling) took the stage win. Almeida was overjoyed with Guerreiro's victory and interrupted the EF riders' press conference to say, "Ruben is my friend.

"Today, Giro definitely speaks Portuguese," he concluded.