"Speed is something I've always loved" - Jonathan Milan and what drives him to be the best sprinter in the world
Cycling
Lidl-Trek had the budget and two winters ago they signed Jonathan Milan from Bahrain - Victorious. In the years that followed, they've turned the Italian into a proven winner with a world-class leadout and an enviable palmarès. At the Singapore Criterium, Milan explained his motivations.
"My first goal is to have fun, if you're not having fun you can't make it to the end of the season," Milan said in words to Marca. "I'm a fan of anything fast. I think speed is something I've always loved; I adore that feeling."
And in Singapore he experienced it. In an exhibition race, he was put side by side with Jasper Philipsen and Biniam Girmay, with him taking the victory at the Tour de France event. There, he was wearing the green jersey he collected in July, fruit of the successful work in the sprints and a team focused on that goal. Milan's only competition was Tadej Pogacarr, who did not actually try to rival the Italian.
Behind those results is Milan's 'need for speed': "It's the adrenaline rush it gives you; it always pushes you to go a little further. I love it. Every time the season ends, I ask myself the same question: What can I improve? I'm lucky to have the team I work for. We're working on my position on the bike; it won't be anything drastic, but there will be some small adjustments."
Return to the Tour de France?
Milan leaves it open, there is no answer at the time being. "This year we pulled off a major upset in France. Now we have to work on next season's calendar with the goal of winning and having fun."
However it is known that Mads Pedersen is aiming to be in the Tour's lineup and after a year of being absent, alongside Milan's victories and green jersey, logic would have it that Pedersen will be returning next summer whilst the Italian and his leadout could be heading to the Giro d'Italia.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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