Lidl-Trek sprinter Jonathan Milan dashed to victory in a tricky uphill finale on stage 4 of Tirreno-Adriatico.
Stomping via an enormous gear, and nonetheless seated within the saddle, the Italian beat Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) on the bike throw, with Corbin Sturdy (Israel-Premier Tech) ending third. The sprinters spoiled the parade of Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X), who nearly lasted to the road as the one remnant of the day’s early breakaway.Â
Milan now leads the Italian stage race, taking the blue jersey from Juan Ayuso (UAE Workforce Emirates), because of bonus seconds gained.Â
“That was shut,” the 23-year-old smiled afterwards. “What a day. I feel I simply need to say because of my teammates. I feel they did such an incredible job.Â
“I had a not fairly straightforward day. I had a puncture on the climb and it was powerful to get again to the peloton. The fellows supported me actually in one of the simplest ways they might do it. They pushed till the ultimate. They have been unimaginable.”Â
Having completed third within the opening time trial, Milan went on to position second on stage three, the highest step seeming to allude him. His victory in Giulianova marked his second of the season, after he opened his tally on the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana final month.Â
“We got here right here with a aim to carry some good outcomes, with me, with the staff,” he defined. “This morning I wished this victory a lot. We did all of it collectively. It’s not simply my victory, it’s a staff victory.”Â
After Wednesday’s 225km slog, stage 4 introduced back-to-back days over 200km, and was arrange as one other alternative for the sprinters.Â
Early on, a six-rider breakaway fashioned, gaining over 4 minutes at one level, and threatening to foil the fastmen’s probabilities. The route from Arrone to Giulianova was an undulating one, and with 13km to go, Tim Merlier (Soudal Fast-Step) misplaced contact with the bunch on a brief rise within the street.Â
Because of a steep drag into the finale, the final of the escapees survived longer than anticipated. Abrahamsen dug deep underneath the flamme rouge, and rounded a bend at 500m to go solo, with the peloton bearing down on him.Â
Tom Pidcock took up the cost, however the transfer wouldn’t be fruitful for his Ineos Grenadiers staff. From behind, Milan muscled his means between Philipsen and Sturdy, holding them each off, and punching the air in victory throughout the road.
Outcomes
Tirreno Adriatico 2024, stage 4: Arrone > Giulianova (207km)
1. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek, in 4-56-44
2. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
3. Corbin Sturdy (NZl) Israel-Premier Tech
4. Biniam Girmay (Eri) Intermarché-Wanty
5. Axel Zingle (Fra) Cofidis)
6. Marius Mayrhofer (Ger), Tudor Professional Biking
7. Jonas Abrahamsen (Nor), Uno-X
8. Iván GarcÃa Cortina (Esp), Movistar
9. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra), Soudal Fast-Step
10. Antonio Tiberi (Ita), Bahrain-Victorious, all at identical time
Common classification after stage 4
1. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek, in 15-06-02
2. Juan Ayuso (Esp) UAE Workforce Emirates, +4s
3. Kévin Vaquelin (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Resorts, +18s
4. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious, +21s
5. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma-Lease a Bike, +26s
6. Roman Grégoire (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, s.t.
7. Jai Hindley (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe, +28s
8. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Schooling-EasyPost, +30s
9. Max Poole (GBr) dsm-firmenich PostNL
10. Lennard Kämna (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, each at s.t.
