Jonathan Milan is the new sprint superstar

[KZD]

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After winning 3 sprint stages already in the Giro this year plus one and the ciclamino last year, this man deserves his own thread to more in depth discussion.

Reminds me a lot of riders like Cipollini, Greipel and Kittel with a very big frame and the watts to match. Already one of three best sprinters in the world and I think he has the potential to become the best if everything goes right for him. Quite versatile too, good in prologues and showed talent for the classics this spring as well.

https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/jonathan-milan

 

[Extinction]

The best sprinters, however, are not in the Giro, let's see how it goes in the Tour, if he's riding.

 

[SafeBet]

Massive improvements in positioning and style compared to last year. And that Lidl train is quickly becoming the best in the world.

Don't know what his ceiling is in classics like Roubaix and GW. Pippo took a few years before showing he could be competitive and Milan has even less experience on the road.
It's truly impressive that the two biggest Italian talents come from track cycling considering the lack of infrastructures and funding. Coaches are doing an excellent job. Next in line could be David Sierra and Luca Giaimi.

 

[Extinction]

Massive improvements in positioning and style compared to last year. And that Lidl train is quickly becoming the best in the world.

Don't know what his ceiling is in classics like Roubaix and GW. Pippo took a few years before showing he could be competitive and Milan has even less experience on the road.
It's truly impressive that the two biggest Italian talents come from track cycling considering the lack of infrastructures and funding. Coaches are doing an excellent job. Next in line could be David Sierra and Luca Giaimi.

Milan should ride the Tour, but is he?

 

[SafeBet]

Milan should ride the Tour, but is he?

This year? No way.
Team pursuit in Paris is a huge goal.

2025 perhaps.

 

[Extinction]

This year? No way.
Team pursuit in Paris is a huge goal.

2025 perhaps.

It's a shame. He should be at the highest event of cycling. Who will remember the Olympic team pursuit?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

It's a shame. He should be at the highest event of cycling. Who will remember the Olympic team pursuit?

Me, for starters.

 

[Extinction]

Me, for starters.

You and three others. He as the chance to be the next Cipollini or Petacchi.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

You and three others. He as the chance to be the next Cipollini or Petacchi.

Sure, but he's only 23, so he has time on his side. Also Trek has Pedersen for the TdF sprints and Geoghegan Hart and Ciccone for GC/stage hunting.

 

[SafeBet]

It's a shame. He should be at the highest event of cycling. Who will remember the Olympic team pursuit?

I don't think there's an Italian person who has watched this and doesn't remember it

View: https://youtu.be/Y34LS-hgcKU?si=Vc6zArkr7qsELqwX

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I don't think there's an Italian person who has watched this and doesn't remember it

View: https://youtu.be/Y34LS-hgcKU?si=Vc6zArkr7qsELqwX

The video is blocked in Denmark, so that must mean it never happened...

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

The video is blocked in Denmark, so that must mean it never happened...

Blocked evidence within Denmark as the conversation turns to the Olympics, an Italian and the team pursuit?
Wonder if there's a background story?

.

 

[Tonton]

Without a super Italian sprinter, cycling is not quite cycling. That's how I feel, and I'm glad if he gets his breakthrough. Vai, Vai, Vai!

 

[jmdirt]

JM X3!
A BIG crank twister!

 

[Oldermanish]

The best sprinters, however, are not in the Giro, let's see how it goes in the Tour, if he's riding.

...and he's now won 3 stages! When will the whining about his greed for glory begin?

 

[RedheadDane]

You and three others. He as the chance to be the next Cipollini or Petacchi.

From what I've herd, Cipollini never finished the Tour, so I'm not sure he's kind of rider a young aspiring rider should strive to emulate.
(And that's not even touching upon the recent issues involving Cipollini...)

Meanwhile, unless something drastic happens, I'd say the Italian Team Pursuit are probably guaranteed to get at least silver at the Olympics.

 

[SafeBet]

The video is blocked in Denmark, so that must mean it never happened...

I geoblocked it myself because I didn't wanna hurt my Danish friends on here.

 

[wirral]

Does he intend to complete the Giro? Although it is more likely to be a team management decision.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Meanwhile, unless something drastic happens, I'd say the Italian Team Pursuit are probably guaranteed to get at least silver at the Olympics.

That's a pretty bold prediction, cause not that much is separating the Danes, Italians and Brits at the moment, and we've not even seen Bigham and Tarling ride a TP together yet.

 

[RedheadDane]

That's a pretty bold prediction, cause not that much is separating the Danes, Italians and Brits at the moment, and we've not even seen Bigham and Tarling ride a TP together yet.

The Italians go Ganna. He counts for five people.
Which technically unfair, coz that would make Italy an eight-rider team.

 

[SafeBet]

Does he intend to complete the Giro? Although it is more likely to be a team management decision.

Both Milan and the team set the Ciclamino jersey as a goal for this Giro so there's no reason to go home unless he falls sick.
And if I'm not mistaken he can also become the first rider since Cavendish in 2013 to win 5 stages in a single edition of the Giro.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The Italians go Ganna. He counts for five people.
Which technically unfair, coz that would make Italy an eight-rider team.

Well GB with Tarling beat Ganna and Co. (both Milan and Bigham didn't ride) at the Nations Cup in Australia back in February. It's not as clear cut as you make it out to be, and one of the Big 3 will miss out on the final.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Both Milan and the team set the Ciclamino jersey as a goal for this Giro so there's no reason to go home unless he falls sick.
And if I'm not mistaken he can also become the first rider since Cavendish in 2013 to win 5 stages in a single edition of the Giro.

Also the record for most Ciclamino wins is only 4, so he'll already be halfway there, if he makes it to the finish.

 

[RedheadDane]

and one of the Big 3 will miss out on the final.

Why?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Why?

Because there's only 2 teams in a final.