No second stage victory for Tim Merlier, but a first for Jonathan ‘Johnny’ Milan. In good Italian tradition, he was very emotional after his first stage victory.
After a second place yesterday in Fossano, Jonathan Milan scored in Andora, exactly a year after he achieved his first Giro stage victory in San Salvo. The 23-year-old Italian from Lidl-Trek sprinted convincingly to his first stage victory of this Giro on the banks of the Ligurian coast. He also takes over the purple points jersey from Tim Merlier, who had to settle for fifth place. “This brings up so many emotions,” said the stage winner afterwards. “We had one big goal in this Giro and that was to win at least one stage. I have to thank my teammates for this. They did a fantastic job.”
And there were even more emotions in the Italian camp. “I would also like to thank my parents who came here especially from Friulia. But also the people at home who watched the stage on television and mean a lot to me.”
Filippo Ganna tried to surprise the peloton on the Capo Mele. — © AFP
There was even a thank you to Filippo Ganna. This is the driving force in the Italian pursuit quartet, of which Milan is also a part and which will soon want to extend its Olympic title at the Olympic Games in Paris. That Ganna attacked on the Capo Mele and was only caught in the final kilometer. “He actually helped us,” said Milan. “This gave us an ideal aim and Simo (Consonni, also a member of the pursuit quartet, ed.) was able to do a perfect lead-out. Then it was just up to me to play my cards.”
Merlier: “Glad I’m still alive”
Tim Merlier briefly seemed on his way to a second stage victory, but eventually had to settle down and ended up in fifth place. “I’m just happy that I’m still alive and that I crossed the finish line in one piece,” said the Soudal – Quick-Step sprinter. “When it was time to start, two riders were riding shoulder-to-shoulder and I almost got boxed in. They almost drove over the barriers. I seemed to have a chance of winning for a moment, but Milan came at high speed and I was ultimately too far.”
A sprinter is never satisfied when he loses. “I am of course disappointed. It was possible to win today, but it was quite hectic and even dangerous. But okay, it’s part of my job.”
