Trainer Jonathan Milan describes potential Italian sprint bomb: "I'd be happy to make that bet"
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With his 1.93 meters (6.33 feet), Jonathan Milan is an impressive rider on the bike. In addition to his actual size, the Lidl-Trek sprinter showed lots of great things in the sprints this year. Milan won 11 times this season, making him perhaps the fastest sprinter in the peloton. In conversation with Bici, his trainer Mattias Reck discussed the qualities of "his" sprint bomb.
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"It is clear that he has an incredible sprint," the Swedish trainer about Jonny begins. "What makes him even more special is that, despite being so tall and heavy for a rider, he has a very explosive momentum and can sustain it for a long time. Because he has such a powerful aerobic motor and high anaerobic power, he can maintain a very intense pace for a long time before sprinting." It is by combining those strengths that Milan can compete in the most challenging classics, according to his trainer. We already saw that this year at Gent-Wevelgem when the Italians finished fifth.
After Gent-Wevelgem, Milan finished seventh in Dwars door Vlaanderen; afterward, he didn't get further than 67th place in the Tour of Flanders. Reck said "future developments" must show if the big Italian can compete in the Tour of Flanders. "That race has had an extremely high climbing level in recent years, so I hesitate to make any predictions. However, Jonathan could be present at races like Sanremo, Gent-Wevelgem, and Roubaix."
Milan-Sanremo is a lot closer to home for the sprint bomb born in Tolmezzo than the classic spring in Belgium and also contains a lot less climbing. As such, Reck is convinced Milan could survive the Poggio and triumph in Sanremo. "Although that does depend on how difficult the Capo Berta and Cipressa climbs are going to be, on the wind, and of course, it also requires a bit of luck. That he can win one day is a bet I'd be happy to make."
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Milan won three stages in the Giro this year, also capturing the purple points jersey
Time trial might also become a priority for Milan in the future
In addition to his extremely powerful sprint and qualities in the classics, we saw Milan win a prologue in the Lidl Deutschland Tour earlier this year. According to Reck, Jonny's big engine could play a significant role in future trials. "Although that is not something we are specifically focusing on now. The goal should be to improve his strengths further and not focus too much on things that are not the highest priority."
Later in his career, though, a time trial could become a goal. "Then we'll see what he can do. However, shorter time trials, such as those of 10-12 kilometers, can already be completed at a very high level and suit his character. The point is that we can't even concentrate on tests of 35-40 kilometers. If we did, we might lose too much on other fronts," Coach Reck said.
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026