Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) grew to become the primary sprinter to double his stage win tally at this 12 months’s Giro d’Italia, proving to be the quickest in a bunch sprint on day 11.
The Italian, decked within the ciclamino purple because the factors classification chief, outkicked Tim Merlier (Soudal Fast-Step) right into a headwind in Francavilla al Mare.
Merlier was then relegated for deviation, that means Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) completed second, in a dash end that noticed dsm-firmenich PostNL’s Fabio Jakobsen hit the tarmac.
“Right this moment it is simply unbelievable what the fellows did for me, like all the time,” mentioned a smiling Milan post-stage. “It isn’t simply this 20-second dash that makes me completely happy, or the victory ultimately, it is all of the work that the staff did for me right this moment, supporting me, bringing me to the essential place for the dash, pushing… This it what’s making me completely happy. That is what makes us an actual staff, as we’re.
“They’re all the time believing in me, and I’ve to say thanks from the underside of my coronary heart for this. I am simply so completely happy to see this after which to see their completely happy faces.”
The dash proved a cagey affair on the Adriatic coast. With a U-turn on the 4km to go mark, the dash groups jostled alongside the GC groups for place, earlier than turning to cost into the wind.
“It is all the time tough within the last the way to predict and the way to transfer,” Milan mentioned. “I feel we tried to handle it as a lot as potential. It was a tough last too, with some corners, and a straight end. It was actually tougher to handle this than a traditional end with some corners.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, evaluations and skilled shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
“In the long run, I discovered myself on [Merlier’s] wheel. I feel it was the proper wheel. He began his dash actually robust, however then I attempted to make mine and went good.”
Final 12 months, Milan managed to win one stage on his Grand Tour debut on the Giro d’Italia. He might be leaving this 12 months’s race with a minimum of double that report. “It is actually particular,” he mentioned. “Final 12 months, I used to be all the time shut, [but] performing some errors. I feel a very powerful factor to do is be taught from these errors and go additional. We did this with the staff, and I am pleased with this.”
There have been no main modifications within the normal classification on stage 11, save for 2 bonus seconds Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) clawed again in an intermediate dash. The Welshman now trails second-placed Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) by 16 seconds, and chief Tadej Pogačar (UAE Group Emirates) by two minutes and 56 seconds.
The way it occurred
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Stage 11 proved to be a sleepy day on the Giro d’Italia. After a fast-paced opening week, it was solely pure the riders would get pleasure from a lull within the center a part of the race. Heading alongside Italy’s Adriatic coast, the 207km course provided few obstacles, and from the flag drop, Thomas Champion (Cofidis) took up the breakaway baton.
The Frenchman was joined promptly by Visma-Lease a Bike duo Tim van Dijke and Edoardo Affini, each having fun with freer roles after the withdrawal of their chief, Cian Uijtdebroeks, too unwell to begin within the morning.
The main trio lasted many of the time out entrance – 168km, to be actual – however with 35km to go, they have been absorbed again into the bunch, and the dash groups took up the cost.
Defending their chief, Thomas, Ineos Grenadiers led right into a U-turn with 4km to go. The finale, from that time, was easy – a flat street, with ocean vistas to the left, and a roaring headwind.
Conscious of the wind, the dash groups basked within the stress and bided their time. Then, inside 300m to go, Merlier dared to kick down on the pedals first.
The Belgian, winner of stage three, propelled himself alongside the barrier in conjunction with the street. Over his left shoulder, although, pedalling barely faster, got here Milan, clad in purple, and finally victorious by the seaside.
Outcomes
Giro d’italia 2024, stage 11: Foiano di Val Fortore > Francavilla al Mare (207km)
1. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek, in 4-23-18
2. Kaden Groves (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck
3. Giovanni Lonardi (Ita) Polti Kometa
4. Laurence Pithie (NZl) Groupama-FDJ
5. Juan Sebastián Molano (Col) UAE Group Emirates
6. Danny van Poppel (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe
7. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Movistar
8. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain Victorious
9. Stanisław Aniołkowski (Pol) Cofidis
10. Enrico Zanoncello (Ita) VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè, all at similar time
Basic classification after stage 11
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Group Emirates, in 41-09:26
2. Daniel Martinez (Col) Bora-Hansgrohe, +2-40
3. Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Ineos Grenadiers, +2-56
4. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale, +3-39
5. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) bahrain Victorious, +4-27
6. Romain Bardet (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL, +4-57
7. Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan, +5-19
8. Filippo Zana (Ita) Jayco-AIUla, +5-23
9. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar, +5-28
10. Thymen Arensman (Ned) Ineos Grenadiers, +5-52
