“To reach Paris and bring home the green jersey was incredibly emotional” – Jonathan Milan reflects on stunning Tour de France debut and end of season in Japan

Jonathan Milan says his breakthrough performance at the 2025 Tour de France will stay with him forever after the Italian stormed to the points classification in his debut appearance at the sports biggest race. The Lidl-Trek sprinter pulled on the green jersey in Paris, marking the culmination of a season’s work and a moment he describes as “incredibly emotional.”

“Before you start, you imagine everything, you study every detail,” Milan reflected in conversation with Bici.Pro. “Then you train for weeks with one thought in mind. To reach Paris and be able to say we brought home the green jersey was something very special.”

For Milan, the journey to green was about far more than victories in the bunch sprints. It was about resilience, teamwork, and surviving the demands of three relentless weeks. “I’m aware of the strength of the team I had at my side,” he said. “I’ll never stop thanking them for how they supported me, especially in difficult moments. There were tough climbs, hectic phases of racing – things you don’t always see on TV – but the guys did an incredible job. Achieving the goal together was deeply satisfying. It might sound obvious, but that’s really how it felt.”

The 25-year-old added that the enjoyment of racing, as much as the results, had driven him forward. “I’m happy with how I lived the experience – the stages, the sprints, the people on the roadside. I had a lot of fun, and I think that helped me reach the goal.”

After a short break to recover from the Tour, Milan returned to action in Hamburg and then the Deutschland Tour. Though he showed strong form, the victory he craved eluded him until September’s Kampioenschap Van Vlaanderen, where he outsprinted Dylan Groenewegen and Tim Merlier in a show of raw power.

“I came back in Hamburg with the aim of regaining rhythm before the Deutschland Tour,” he explained. “The numbers I was hitting in training were good, even if that didn’t turn into results right away. The only thing missing was the win.”

That win arrived in Koolskamp at the first of three Belgian races, but illness quickly cut short his momentum. “Once we got to Belgium, I felt in the right shape, and I was happy with that because at the end of the season you have to manage the energy you have left. We started well with a strong sprint, but in the next races I didn’t feel good. In the last one I actually came down with the flu.”

Despite illness, Milan looks back on the campaign with pride. The Deutschland Tour provided what he called a “good warm-up” after the Tour, and he believes the experience will stand him in good stead. “Finding good condition after the demands of the Tour was important. There were tough moments, but overall I was happy. It was a solid step back into racing – hard, I admit, but we came close to winning. Next year we’ll try to do even better.”

As the season winds down, Milan is preparing for a final block in Japan, which he views as the natural closing chapter of a remarkable year. “This season has taught me a lot about managing big commitments like preparing for the Tour,” he said. “But above all it’s been a year where I’ve really enjoyed myself. Not just because of the wins, but in general – we shared so many great moments as a team. It’s been a beautiful season.”

The Italian’s ambitions are not limited to the road. Milan is already in contact with national track coach Dino Salvoldi, with a return to the boards on the horizon for 2026.

“We’ve already spoken a few times. I’ve also had a look at the calendar, but between road and track you want to do everything, and that’s impossible. We’ll define things soon, but for sure I’ll be back training on the track in the new year.”

For now, though, the memories of July remain front and centre. “To reach Paris and bring home the green jersey was incredibly emotional,” Milan said again, his smile broad. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”