Jonathan Milan's Tirreno-Adriatico crash raises concerns ahead of Milano-Sanremo: "I just tried to hold on"

Jonathan Milan’s Tirreno-Adriatico campaign has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Earlier this week, he powered to an emphatic victory on Stage 2, however, just a day later, he suffered a crash on Stage 3, a setback that made Stage 4’s brutal conditions even more challenging.

Despite the cold, wind, and relentless rain, Milan battled on, ultimately finishing in the last group alongside fellow sprinters Dylan Groenewegen and Sam Bennett, rolling over the line 18 minutes after the winner. The stage became a test of survival for him.

"I just tried to hold on," Milan admitted in a press release. "This morning was quite painful, I have to say. On the first and second climb of the day, I managed to keep up, but it was just too much on the third climb. I just rode my own pace, and with the support of my teammates, I reached the finish."

While the physical toll of the crash was still evident, Milan was encouraged by how he felt towards the end of the stage.

"I have to be honest: I was very worried after yesterday's crash. But today, I started to feel a bit better in the last kilometres. That has given me confidence for the following days. We will try to save as much energy as possible and defend this jersey until Sunday. On Sunday, I still hope to win the stage."

The next major question is whether Milan can recover in time for Milano-Sanremo next week.

"My side and my feet hurt the most. I also still have some muscle pain. But the cold and wet conditions don't really help either," he said.