Sprinter turned climber? Jonathan Milan comes alive on final climb at Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana: "I always rode at the limit today"
Cycling
Renowned as one of the top sprinters in the world, Jonathan
Milan took on an unexpected role as a climber today! During the fourth stage of
the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana 2025, Santiago Buitrago of Bahrain
Victorious claimed victory, seizing the overall lead from Joao Almeida in a
surprising result. However, the bigger surprise was that Milan securing second
place, finishing just six seconds behind.
Milan is rarely satisfied with second place, but excelling
on a demanding climb is not typically part of his skill set.
“I had to let go a few times today, I think even three
times,” Milan shared with Eurosport following the uphill finish. “But the team
always brought me back. I always rode at the limit today, really the whole
day.”
Teammate Jakob Söderqvist also played a crucial role,
providing a strong lead-out for Milan in the steep final kilometre. “I started
there in a good position, it was clear that Jakob had good legs. He also made a
gap 500 metres from the finish, I saw that he felt better there. But then I saw
Santiago Buitrago coming from behind. He was really going super fast,” Milan
recounted.
“Then I chose my own pace in the last 400 meters towards the
finish,” he added.
Milan acknowledged the teamwork that set him up for success.
“I had a strong team that worked well. Now the focus is on tomorrow,” he said,
referring to the opportunity to sprint for victory on tomorrow’s stage. Milan
will be the favourite tomorrow, and showed today that he is starting the year
in very strong form.
The year 2025 promises to be a significant one for Milan.
Having won the points classification in the last two editions of the Giro
d'Italia, he is set to make his Tour de France debut, where he will challenge
Jasper Philipsen and Biniam Girmay for the prestigious green jersey.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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