“I personally asked to be in his lead-out" – Edward Theuns reveals what it’s like to support Jonathan Milan

At the first rest day of the 2025 Tour de France, things are falling into place for Jonathan Milan. The Italian sprinter, riding his debut Tour for Lidl-Trek, has already bagged a stage win and sits atop the points classification.

Milan became the first Italian rider in six years to win a Tour stage, putting an end to a long drought. While he’s been edged out by Tim Merlier in two other sprint finishes, Milan remains the most consistent contender for the green jersey.

His teammate Edward Theuns has had a front-row seat to Milan’s rise and was quick to express both joy and fatigue after the win.

"You spend a lot of time with those guys. And I've been struggling quite a bit these past few days, so I was very happy. I was so happy for him that fatigue played a part," Theuns told Sporza.

That bond between them started early, "When he (Milan) joined the team, I personally asked to be in his lead-out. That was the start of a great relationship. Last year, we also rode a lot together and had successes. When you spend a lot of time together during training camps and races, you develop a bond."

Milan’s raw power is a known factor within Lidl-Trek. Theuns noted that supporting a rider of Milan’s strength means constant adjustment.

"Milan has a lot of strength, so there's a lot of work to be done. He produces a lot of power, so you have to go for maintenance every now and then," he said.

The win was more than a morale boost, it was a necessary correction after early frustrations.

"It was a relief for us. We had high hopes for the first stage, but that fizzled out. And he lost the second sprint by a very narrow margin, so there was some disappointment. Now there was relief for the whole team because we've pulled this off."

While Milan leads the points competition, Theuns has had his own challenges. Ongoing saddle issues have made the opening week a grind.

"I've had problems with my seat now and then, but rarely as bad as now. So I've suffered a lot, but I feel like things are improving. I'm a bit more positive again," he said.

He also addressed a penalty he received earlier in the race and reflected on the chaotic nature of bunch sprints.

"I'll keep working on the yellow card. I was disappointed with myself that it played a role. I think sprinting is partly about positioning anyway, and you shouldn't fight, but using your elbows and shoulders is part of it, like for most sprinters."