Milan wins the sprint in Andora, Pogacar remains the leader

The Italian had already won two stages this season, in the Tirreno-Adriatico and in the Vuelta a la Comunidad Valenciana.

Jonathan Milan (Bora Hansgrohe) won a final sprint in the third stage of the Giro d’Italia, held between Acqui Terme and Andora. The 23-year-old Italian dedicated his victory to his parents, present at the finish line, and took his second victory in the race, after the one achieved in 2021.

A true machine, the sprinter born in Tomezzo 23 years ago, happy to have dedicated to his parents, present at the finish line, a triumph well worked by his entire team and signed with enormous power.

It was the second time he won the Giro, this time ahead of the Australian Kaden Groves (Alpecin) and the German Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain), giving the peloton time in 4h.16.03, at an average of 44.5 km/hour. Movistar’s Colombian Fernando Gaviria got back into the fight, entering seventh.

Quiet day for Pogacar, although scares are never lacking, in the form of falls above all, like the one that cost the Eritrean Biniam Girmay the retirement. The Slovenian continues as the pattern of the Giro, with 46 and 47 seconds over Geraint Thomas (Ineos) and the Colombian Daniel Felipe Martínez (Bora). The first Spaniard is Juanpe López (Lidl), seventh at 1.11 minutes.

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Ganna tries to escape, Fran Muñoz protagonist in escape

A favorable day for sprinting with only one difficulty, the ascent to Colle del Melogno (3a, 7.5 km at 4.8), located at the equator of the route. There was a short-lived escape starring the double World Time Trial Champion Filippo Ganna, but the Verbania giant thought better of it and got caught up with the entire stage ahead of him.

In the next getaway there was a Spanish presence, the Asturian Fran Muñoz (Polti Kometa), based in Mataró, who joined forces in the adventure with the French Calmejane (Intermarché) and the South African Stefan De Bod (EF Education) to search for an almost impossible loot .

The rebel trio had a 6-minute lead at the aforementioned port, but began to lose strength as the flat area that led to the finish line approached. 76 km from the finish line Calmejane waited for the peloton, which was lapping at 3 minutes. Ahead, Muñoz and De Bod continued to defy logic under heavy rain.

Wet, dangerous road, therefore falls, like the one that affected Fernando Gaviria and Biniam Girmay. The Colombian from Movistar returned to the route, the Eritrean, on a fateful day, had a second fall and went home.

The resistance of the breakaway, stabilized for many kilometers, became the small story of the stage 4 km from Andora, province of Savona, in Liguria. It was decisive climb to Capo Melle, mythical peak of the “Classicissima” Milan San Remo, at whose base Filippo Ganna attacked strongly.

Ganna flew with the pack chasing the desperate one. The Italian giant was leaving, forcing the teams of the favorite sprinters to set off the alarms. Everyone goes for it with just 5 seconds of separation.

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Lidl took responsibility for achieving the hunt, a goal it achieved 500 meters from the line. There appeared powerful, sublime, Jonathan Milan, a runner who comes from the track and who crushes the pedals in a brutal way.

Finally he signed the work of art prepared by the team and completed by him. It was his ninth professional victory, his fourth of the season and his second in the Giro. This campaign already He left his mark with two victories in the Tirreno Adriatico and in the Vuelta a la Comunitat de Valencia.

This Wednesday the fifth stage takes place, between Genova and Lucca, with a route of 178 km, a mid-mountain day with a start full of elevations and the Passo del Braco (3rd, 15.3 km at 4 percent) as the main difficulty in km 60. From there, accessible terrain, interrupted by a small elevation of fourth, Montemagno (4a, 3 km at 4.3) 20 from the finish line. Adventurers can have a good day. EFE