by Marco Bonarrigo
After five years an Italian returns to win a stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico: the Friulian giant beats Philipsen and Girmay in the sprint and wears the blue leader’s jersey
After five years an Italian rider returned to win (and what a victory) a stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico. On Thursday in Giulianova, Abruzzo, the Friulian giant Jonathan Milan achieved a successful feat, the man who with Pippo Ganna gave Italy the Olympic gold in the track pursuit in Tokyo. His feat – after yesterday’s second place, mocked by Bauhaus – was the most difficult thing for a giant of 1.95 meters who weighs 85 kilos and cannot have the agility of a pure sprinter.
Without his teammates to give him a sprint (very good up until the last kilometres), along a steep final straight that cut off many fast wheels and with a breakaway resumed only 300 meters from the end, Milan was not afraid to launch a a very long sprint slipping between the Belgian ace Philipsen and the Eritrean Girmay who with a fearful slide to the right tried to close his path, fortunately without success. And, the icing on the cake, thanks to the bonus obtained, Jonathan also wears the blue jersey of the leader of the general classification, tearing it up to the Spaniard Ayuso and which he combines with the cyclamen one in the points classification and the white one for the best youngster.
In the last ten years, apart from the time trial, only Elia Viviani had managed to take home a stage, that of Foligno in 2019 which broke a five-year long fast.
I’m really happy and not just for the victory which was only a small part of the day – explained the Lidl-Trek rider – The team did a fantastic job, on the climb I was on the hook and I didn’t have very easy moments. We pushed on until the last kilometer because the breakaway was resumed really close to the finish line. To bring something home against opponents of this level you have to grow a lot and learn from mistakes, especially those I’ve made in recent days.
Tomorrow’s mountain stage: the Torricella Sicura – Valle Castellana of 144 km. On Saturday there will be more ups and downs with the Sassoferrato – Cagli (180 km) and on Sunday the grand finale will be in San Benedetto del Tronto with a 154 km circuit.
Corriere della Sera also on Whatsapp. sufficient click here to subscribe to the channel and always be updated.
March 7, 2024 (changed March 7, 2024 | 4:05 pm)
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED