THE CORONATION OF KING JONATHAN THE 1ST
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As the evening sun set over the Adriatic Sea in San Salvo, Abruzzo, a new sprint king was crowned at the 106th Giro d’Italia.
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Team Bahrain Victorious’ Jonathan Milan, 22 years old and already an Olympic & European track champion, took the very first road stage of his very first Grand Tour, and with it the points jersey, the ‘Maglia Ciclamino’.
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“It’s just incredible. I’m completely shocked. I always give 100%, I always give my best. Everything that’s happened this season: the falls, the tiredness, the illnesses, I didn’t believe I could win this first sprint stage of the Giro. I wanted to make sure I was in the mix, but I never imagined crossing the line first”
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In the very first kilometre a breakaway of 4 got away, and while their advantage reached 6 minutes, they were caught with 34 kilometers remaining. This left all 176 riders together as the peloton raced along the coast to what was now a guaranteed bunch sprint.
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| After the stage, Sports Director Franco Pellizotti, himself a double individual stage winner at the Giro, highlighted the teamwork that led to the win: |
| “This victory was built by the team. Jasha brought everyone to the front, Yuki is the guy who did the dirty but important work, and I think half of this result belongs to Pasqualon. Andrea put Jonny in the position that gave him the chance to win today. This is a guy with so much experience, and he was exceptional today. |
As for Jonny … when he saw a gap, he scattered all those before him. Yesterday Evenepoel demonstrated his superiority against the clock, today Jonathan showed that he is one of the men to beat in the flat stages.”
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Yuki Arashiro – last minute addition to the line-up – pulled the peloton and the Bahrain train towards the denoument of the day. Once our GC riders were safe, Jasha Sutterlin and Andrea Pasqualon worked tirelessly and effectively, dragging the Italian into the perfect position for the finale.
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| After a late crash in the group and a dangerous roundabout, it was dead straight from the flamme rouge to the line. ‘Jonny’ timed his effort perfectly, coming from behind and destroying a field containing some of the biggest names in world sprinting: Cavendish, Groves, Gaviria, Ackermann, Matthews. None of them had an answer to the power of the ‘Bull of Buja’, |
| “To win the first road stage of this Giro is something very special. We’ve achieved one of our objectives already, it means everything for all of us here, and to win with a young guy like Jonny is beautiful. |
We knew that he could do well, but to win, and to beat the riders he beat today, is even more beautiful.”
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| Milan will line up at the front of the race in Vasto on Monday morning, as the previous day’s winner and in the prestigious purple points jersey. He sums up a momentous day: |
| “What a job the guys did today. Wow! Thank you so much to all of them. I’m just so happy, so so happy.” |
| Arise King Jonathan, today was your coronation, may your reign be long and successful! |
| (All pictures can be used for editorial and non-commercial usages only and are copyright @ChrisAuld @Sprintcycling @TeamBahrainVictorious) |
