"His climbing legs will still have to improve a bit" - Jonathan Milan's teammates had to dig deep to ensure his victory
Cycling
The opening stage of Criterium du Dauphiné was overthrown by a coup of the GC stars led by Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, the second day had more traditional development with a predicatble Jonathan Milan's sprint victory as a climax of the stage.
Most of the credit for this win will go to Lidl-Trek leadout that ensured their sprinter would be able to even attend the finale. "We started from a bit further than expected, but I felt that there was enough power," Stuyven patted himself on the back in an interview with Sporza afterwards.
Normally, it would've been Simone Consonni as the last man for Jonathan Milan, but today was not the case. "Simone didn't have any punch left for the lead-out," Stuyven explained the late change. "But he came forward at the perfect moment, which allowed me to catch up and take the lead."
And Stuyven did that with grace. "We were brought very well to the last kilometer and then Jasper did an incredible turn again," laughed Theuns. "He held everyone off and set us off perfectly. We were all a bit à bloc, but it was enough. I tried to pull as long as possible and was eventually able to launch Jonny perfectly, I think."
While it may have seen a simple job to win the sprint, it was a stressful day for everyone involved. "No, winning is never simple," Stuyven confirmed. "We had to fight for it, so it's nice that everything falls into place."
Although the GC favourites didn't go all out today, the cat-2 climb with 60 kilometers to go still put Milan deep into red numbers. And it was only thanks to a tremendous effort from his teammates that the 24-year-old was able to come back. "His climbing legs will still have to improve a bit. But he was just dropped and Simone and Amanuel (Consonni and Ghebreigzabhier, ed.) were still with him and Julien (Bernard, ed.) and I waited after the top," Theuns explained.
And so the sprint train was finally able to do its thing, unlike yesterday. "He was very disappointed then. We had put all our eggs in his basket, but it didn't work out well. Now we have the main course right away. We are very satisfied, this performance is good for morale."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
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- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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