Jonathan Milan apologises to Lidl-Trek after another missed chance at Giro d’Italia

Jonathan Milan reacted with a sense of guilt after stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia. The Italian survived a tricky finale in impressive style, but when the sprinters were eventually allowed to fight it out, the towering powerhouse was slightly too far back. Paul Magnier won, while Milan had to settle for third place.

We saw Lidl-Trek riding at the front of the peloton for much of the eighteenth stage, and for a long time the expectation was that it would be for Giulio Ciccone. The Italian appeared to have a suitable finale with the Muro di Ca' del Poggio, 1,100 metres long at an average of 11.3 per cent.

Ciccone did indeed come over the top among the first riders, but the work had been done for Milan. He was delivered to the front row and, despite dropping back a little, crested the climb only a few seconds later. He was joined by other sprinters, which meant the gap was closed.

Soudal Quick-Step and even Lidl-Trek GC rider Derek Gee-West helped ensure a sprint, but while Magnier received a brilliant lead-out from Jasper Stuyven, Milan was apparently on his own at the front in the final kilometre.

Milan, however, blamed only himself for the fact that he had never really been able to challenge Magnier in the sprint. “It was not an easy day, without a big breakaway, but also not a guaranteed bunch sprint,” he began in a brief reaction to Eurosport.

“I want to say sorry to the team, who controlled all day. We do not have the result we were looking for. We did our best and it was my mistake to enter the last corner in fourth position. I should have stayed on Magnier’s wheel.”

Milan’s third place was his third top-five finish in a Giro sprint. On day one, the Italian came fourth, and two days later he was second. Magnier won both stages and is emerging as the best sprinter in this Giro.

The Frenchman also wears the purple points jersey, which Milan has already won twice in his career. On Sunday in Rome, one more sprint finish is on the schedule.