National Championship Roundup | Jonathan Milan lands dream Italian title as major names toppled across Europe

Jonathan Milan has added the Italian tricolore to his growing palmares, sprinting to the national road race title in Cuneo after a long Lidl-Trek effort on a busy day of championship racing across Europe and beyond.

The Italian powerhouse beat Tommaso Dati and Alessandro Romele after 232.5 kilometres, finishing off a race that his team had worked hard to keep under control.

Romele opened up first in the sprint, but Milan came through late to claim one of the most emotional victories of his career and another major result before the height of the summer.

Milan had already taken the final stage of the Giro d’Italia in Rome earlier this season, but the national jersey carries a different kind of weight. For a rider now firmly among the leading sprinters in the peloton, this was a home title he had still been chasing.

Lidl-Trek spent much of the day working for Milan, keeping the race within reach of a reduced sprint and backing their fastest finisher to deliver. The plan survived the late attacks and the final push from Romele, with Milan timing his effort well enough to come past and secure the jersey.

The result gives Milan another statement win in a season that has already strengthened his status as one of the sport's most powerful finishers. It also puts the tricolore on one of the most visible Italian riders in the men's peloton, even if his first race in the jersey may not come immediately at the Tour de France.

Behind him, Dati took second, while Romele completed the podium after launching the sprint that Milan ultimately overhauled.

Away from Italy, several of the biggest names in the women’s peloton were denied national titles. In Switzerland, Steffi Haberlin beat Marlen Reusser to the women’s road race title by just two seconds. Reusser, one of the most decorated Swiss riders of her generation, had to settle for second, with Jasmin Liechti completing the podium at 3:44.

France also produced a notable winner, with Celia Gery taking the women’s road race title ahead of Cedrine Kerbaol. Gery finished five seconds clear, while Emilie Morier took third at seven seconds.

In Germany, Franziska Koch claimed the women’s road race title ahead of Liane Lippert and Justyna Czapla, with all three riders finishing on the same time after 3:07:43 of racing.

There were further titles for Lara Gillespie in Ireland, Mireia Benito in Spain and Julia Kopecky in the Czech Republic. Gillespie won ahead of Emma Jeffers and Mia Griffin, Benito beat Sara Martin by two seconds in Spain, and Kopecky edged Kristyna Zemanova in the Czech women’s race, with Barbora Nemcova third at 22 seconds.

Felix Grossschartner gave UAE Team Emirates – XRG another national title in Austria, winning the men’s time trial in 27:06. The Austrian beat Bahrain Victorious rider Rainer Kepplinger by 27 seconds, with Adrian Stieger taking third at 57 seconds. For Grossschartner, the result lands just before the Tour de France, where UAE Team Emirates – XRG are again expected to be one of the central teams.

XDS Astana Team dominated the men’s road race in Kazakhstan, filling the podium after 3:52:40 of racing. Nicolas Vinokurov took the national title ahead of teammate Yevgeniy Fedorov, while Anton Kuzmin completed the sweep in third at one second.

In Israel, Oded Kogut won the men’s title for Israel-Premier Tech in 32:33. Nadav Raisberg made it a one-two for the team at 19 seconds, with Rotem Tene third at 1:21.

With Milan in the tricolore, Grossschartner taking Austrian time trial gold and several major women’s names missing out, Saturday’s national championship racing delivered far more than a routine list of expected winners.