Jonathan Milan wins baking Tour de France eighth stage in mass sprint
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Jonathan Milan celebrates on the podium with the best sprinter's green jersey after the 8th stage of the Tour de France.
PHOTO: AFP
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- Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek won Stage 8, becoming the first Italian to win a Tour stage since 2019. He also leads the sprint points rankings.
- Tadej Pogacar retained the overall lead, with no changes in the top 10. The peloton largely conserved energy during the stage.
- Stage 9 is another flat stage focused on hydration, while Stage 10 on France's national holiday features eight classified climbs.
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LAVAL – Jonathan Milan won Stage 8 of the Tour de France in a mass bunch sprint on July 12 ahead of Wout van Aert and Kaden Groves.
On a day for pure sprinters and with no change at the top of the overall rankings, Lidl-Trek’s Milan was the first Italian to win a stage on the Tour since Vincenzo Nibali in the Alps in 2019.
“I think I don’t understood what we (just) did. To come with some expectations and dreams and then to bring them home are two different good things,” the 24-year-old said.
“Today it was really focused, believing in it.
“My guys did an amazing job into the final. It was a tough and stressful final. It was dragging up and I knew I had to wait as long as I could.
“I like these kind of finals. I’m really happy and we deserve it. We deserve one (a win) and now let’s try and rest as much as possible and try again tomorrow.”
Pure sprinter Milan took over the top of the sprint points rankings and had been wearing the green tunic in place of Tadej Pogacar, who had earned the sprint and the overall leader’s yellow jersey by winning Stage 7.
“Winning with this jersey on my shoulder means a lot for me and for my country. I’m really happy with the result and I’ll try and bring more home,” added Milan.
Three-time former champion Pogacar retained the overall lead with Remco Evenepoel and Kevin Vauquelin rounding out the top three, with no change in the top 10 as the peloton kept its powder dry.
The remaining 177 riders from the original 184 rolled through the Brittany countryside with the harvest ongoing a month early and colossal crowds on the roadside.
Under clear blue skies and 31 deg C heat, there was little inspiration in the peloton to breakaway until late in the day.
French duo Mathieu Burgaudeau and Matteo Vercher attacked from 70km and the pair were reeled in only on the edge of finish town Laval after enthusiastic support on this Tour, which is based entirely on French soil but with no home winner yet.
Stage 9 on July 13 heads south from Chinon to Chateauroux and is another flat affair with the focus on keeping hydrated in the heat and staying in the saddle.
But on France’s national holiday on July 14, there are eight classified climbs and many more besides in a stage loaded with opportunities. AFP
