Until Saturday, Joao Almeida's standout performance in his first year as a pro had been overshadowed by other standout moments from younger riders, but on Monday at the Giro d'Italia, the Detunink-Quickstep pro rider was back in the limelight.

Despite finishing second in Saturday's time trial in Palermo and 11th in the summit finish in Etna, just a few seconds behind the favorite, the 22-year-old Almeida won Portugal's first Maria Rosa in 31 years.

His pink claim is clearly not a fluke, as he has been remarkably consistent in every stage race and one-day event this season, and may prove to be harder to dislodge than the pre-race GC contenders would like.

"I knew roughly what the time difference would be, and after Geraint [Thomas] fell I was worried about Simon Yates.

"But he fell off too, so in the last 3 or 4 km I decided to see what I could do, even though it was very difficult because of the wind."

Almeida was touted as an outsider in the overall classification of the Giro d'Italia and was promoted to the Italian Grand Tour leader's position on the Detuning Quick-Step after Remco Evenpole crashed on Il Lombardia. Almeida's second place in the opening time trial further cemented his status as a dark horse in the Giro.

But it was a similar story for the young Portuguese racer throughout the season, as a phenomenal ride by Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) awaited Almeida on Saturday.

Third place at the Vuelta a Burgos was overshadowed by Evenpoel's victory in the Spanish five-day race. In the Giro delle Miglia, Astana's Alexandre Vlasov took the win, with Almeida in second place.

At the Giro d'Italia, it may have worked for Almeida to remain unknown for a little longer while the leading riders attacked each other, but with Maglia Rosa on his back, Almeida will no longer be able to fly under the radar.

"Words cannot describe what I am feeling right now. A stage win would be great, but I will try to defend this lead."

"After the Lemko crash, the team came to this Giro as a pack of wolves.

Almeida hopes to lead the Giro d'Italia longer than Acacio da Silva, the only Portuguese holder of the Maria Rosa.

Da Silva is best known as Sean Kelly's main domestique, having won Mount Etna in 1989 and famously wearing the leader's jersey for a day before losing it in the team time trial.

However, with time bonuses available and stage winner Jonathan Caicedo (EF Pro Cycling) tied on time, the Ecuadorian will be one of the clear rivals on stage 4 in Sicily on Tuesday. And on the first category of stage 5, the Valrico Monte Secro climb, it seems certain that other rivals will attack, led by Pello Bilbao (Bahrain McLaren), who is 37 seconds back.

"I knew that Acacio was the only Portuguese rider to wear this jersey," said Almeida--Jose Azevedo, a former US Postal rider and Katusha coach in 2001, was second overall for four days in the first week.