"I'm glad he didn't beat me today, but maybe he will someday" - Jonathan Milan wins at UAE and is joined by his brother Matteo on the podium

Stage 4 of the UAE Tour delivered another bunch sprint, albeit one that was harder to reach due to the breakaway that held its own throughout the stage and threatened to take the stage win. Everyone at Lidl-Trek had to work to get the win, including its GC rider Derek Gee; but Jonathan Milan delivered on the German team's hard work.

But this was, for the Italian, definitely not a certainty. "To be honest yes. We knew this breakaway was very strong. They always had two or three minutes. But my guys were really strong. They kept it under control. I have to thank them, as always," Milan said in a post-race interview.

Milan lost his opportunity on stage 1, crashing right before the final climb into Liwa Palace. Stage 2 was a time trial and this Wednesday saw the race's queen stage; so Milan arrived to the fourth day of racing empty handed. Whilst opportunities come aplenty in the UAE, he had pressure on his shoulders as a team leader, and a rider who brings with him a strong leadout.

But the commitment from his domestiques was worth it in the end. "We only caught the leaders in the last kilometer. After that, I relaxed a bit, but you're never really relaxed in a sprint. The last kilometer is always stressful; it's like a washing machine. But I had my teammates with me. They kept me at the front and pushed me off well. All I had to do was sprint. I'm very happy with my performance".

Milan beat Ethan Vernon to the line in a sprint where he showed his best; whilst in third place came Matteo Milan - 'Johnny's' younger brother who is in his neo-pro season with Groupama - FDJ.

"I knew he could do really well. Just after the finish, he told me he'd come third. I was even happier then than I already was," the 25-year old admitted. "I'm glad he didn't beat me today, but maybe he will someday. I'm happy with my victory and his first third-place finish in a WorldTour race. That means a lot to him and his team."