"It was a bit my fault": Jonathan Milan apologizes to Lidl-Trek teammates for failure to win stage 18
Cycling
The eighteenth stage of Giro d'Italia had a relatively unexpected development. What seemed like a breakaway stage ended up as a bonus chance for sprinters... providing they'd survive the extremely steep Muro Ca' del Poggio. Jonathan Milan did not manage that with the first group, but crossed the top close enough to return in descent and fight his rival Paul Magnier in yet another sprint duel. Yet, just as has been the case throughout this Giro, the Frenchman prevailed once again.
"It was not an easy day," Milan told Eurosport. With an 8-kilometer ascent after 20 kilometers of racing, there was a good chance a larger group could slip away from peloton to form a dangerous breakaway. But, fortunately for Milan, only a 4-man group got up the road. Also thanks to the relentless work of his Lidl-Trek teammates.
"It was possible that a big break could go, it was not a 100% a bunch sprint, you know, but we tried to control it from the beginning. The guys, they did an amazing job and I have to say sorry to them that I didn’t achieve the result that we were looking for in the end after a big effort like today."
Milan placed the blame on his own positioning in the decisive parts of the stage which saw multiple bends and narrow streets after the passage under flamme rouge. "I think we did our best and I think it was a bit my fault to take this last corner the fourth wheel," he said.
"I like today’s stage and the team did a fantastic job all day," Milan told RAI television. "I’m just sorry I couldn’t put the icing on the cake in the end. I made a bit of a mistake with the positioning on the last corner. I should have stayed on Magnier’s wheel, but that’s how it went."
Last chance in Rome
Looking further ahead, one more opportunity awaits Milan beyond the Dolomites. While stages 19 and 20 will be all about survival for the fast men, the last day in Rome is an opportunity to round off this Giro with at least a stage win. Milan would've of course liked to compete for Maglia Ciclamino, which he had won in 2023 and 2024, but his gap to Magnier is irrecoverable.
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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