'It's hard to understand the tactics of Movistar' - Giro d'Italia top sprinters Magnier, Milan dropped and left frustrated with 'fast pace' on climbs into Novi Ligure

The twelfth stage of the 2026 Giro d’Italia saw two of the race’s leading sprinters, Paul Magnier of Soudal-QuickStep and Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek, fall short of a potential stage victory after being dropped on the final climbs into Novi Ligure. Both riders struggled to keep pace with the aggressive tempo set by Movistar, who were supporting Orluis Aular’s bid for a stage win. Despite their efforts to bridge back to the main group, the steep ascents proved too demanding, leaving Magnier and Milan distanced and frustrated as the stage concluded. Magnier openly criticised Movistar’s tactics, describing them as difficult to comprehend. He questioned whether their high pace was intended to create a spectacle or to secure a win, noting that although Movistar dropped their own sprinter, they ultimately failed to claim the stage. The 175km route, which featured challenging climbs reminiscent of a reverse Milan-San Remo, offered one of the few remaining opportunities for sprinters, making the outcome particularly disappointing for the two contenders. Both riders reflected on their struggles during the climbs, with Milan acknowledging the collaborative effort to chase back the leaders and the assistance he received from teammate Matteo Sobrero. Despite their best efforts, the gap proved insurmountable, and Magnier admitted he was on the limit during the final ascent and unable to recover sufficiently on the descent. The result also intensified the competition for the maglia ciclamino, with Magnier’s lead over Jhonatan Narváez narrowing to just 11 points after Narváez’s strong sprint finish. Looking ahead, the sprinters’ next realistic chance for stage success will come on stage 15, which finishes in Milan, followed by the final ceremonial sprint on stage 21 in Rome. Milan, a four-time stage winner this Giro, remains optimistic despite the limited opportunities and the chaotic nature of recent sprints. Both riders are now focused on preserving their positions and capitalising on the flatter stages that better suit their strengths as the race progresses.