"It was a bit my fault": Jonathan Milan apologizes to Lidl-Trek teammates for failure to win stage 18

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."

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.