'My legs weren't there' – Top favourite Jonathan Milan unable to fulfill dream of first pink jersey at Giro d'Italia

Jonathan Milan, one of the top favourites at the Giro d’Italia, was unable to secure the coveted maglia rosa after a disappointing finish in the opening stage. The Lidl-Trek rider had targeted the first full-on sprint finish in 13 years, hoping to claim his fifth Giro stage victory and the race leader’s pink jersey, which this year is sponsored by his home region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Despite a strong performance earlier in the stage, Milan’s hopes were dashed in the final 300 metres when he ran out of energy and was unable to contest the sprint. The stage itself was relatively straightforward, with Lidl-Trek controlling the race and keeping a two-man breakaway in check. Milan showed promise by securing third place in the intermediate sprint at Sozopol, signalling his readiness for the finale. However, the run-in to the finish was chaotic, with the roads narrowing and the peloton fragmenting. Milan lost contact with his teammates around five kilometres from the finish and had to chase back alone, expending much of his energy before the sprint even began. Milan described the final kilometres as a “big casino,” explaining that after catching up to a rider who was not a teammate, he was left waiting for a sprint that never materialised. The sprint itself was further disrupted by a mass crash just over 600 metres from the line, which blocked many riders and altered the dynamics of the finish. Although Milan avoided the crash, he admitted that his legs had no power left when the sprint unfolded, and he congratulated the winner, Paul Magnier of QuickStep, for a well-executed victory. The difficulties faced by Milan were mirrored by his teammate Max Walscheid, who also faded in the closing moments, highlighting the fragmented and challenging nature of the finale for Lidl-Trek. Despite the setback, Milan remained resolute and optimistic, expressing his intention to move past the disappointment and focus on upcoming stages. With a hilly finish scheduled for the following day and another opportunity on stage three into Sofia, Milan and his team will be looking to regroup and target new chances for success in the early days of the Giro.