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Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) proved he’s ready for the Tour de France with victory against an all-star field at the Critérium du Dauphiné.
The big Italia bruiser got a taste of what the Tour will be like when was dropped late in the stage under pressure from the high pace set by the GC teams, but Lidl-Trek rallied the troops to pace him back to the bunch.
Milan — set to make his Tour debut next month — paid back the work by kicking to victory in Monday’s 204.6km second stage from Prémilhat to Issoire.
“That was a tough stage. Our goal was to come here to keep building up the condition and bring some nice results. I was really suffering a lot yesterday. Today I also suffered, and I was dropped at one point and I was on the limit,” Milan said. “Thanks to my teammates because they brought me back and supported me in the sprint.”
Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) crossed the line second, with Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was third for the second day in a row, a positive sign considering he’s still nursing a wrist injury from a mountain bike crash last month.
“I’m pretty happy with these two days I had, it was better than I expected. This is also exactly what I needed in terms of shape and there’s a few more days to try and win a stage,” Van der Poel said. “Yesterday, normally, I should have been able to win this sprint but given the circumstances, I was already happy to be in the front group.
“Today, a sprint was inevitable. There was a battle to follow Milan’s wheel. Everybody knows he’s fastest,” he said. “And I knew it would be hard to beat Milan, one of the best sprinters in the world. It’s almost impossible.”
Also read: Van der Poel confirms he’ll race mountain bike worlds
Wright said he was fighting to hold the wheel on the late climb where Milan was distanced, and the British rider said the pace was sky high as Visma-Lease a Bike and UAE Emirates-XRG went after each other in what should have been a relatively routine transition stage.
“It was a hard stage and we were really racing on some of those climbs. After a hot day I know I have a decent sprint. I know it’s not a big sprinter field and it’s a question of being patient,” Wright said. “I was right on Johnny’s wheel [Milan], this guy is just unbelievable. I can be up there, but it’s winning these bike races, that’s the hard part.”
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Emirates-XRG), winner of Sunday’s wild opener, let go of the overall lead due to time bonuses to slot into second behind Milan.
Dauphiné stage 2 results: Milan doubles up
Pogačar, shown here with Vingegaard, let go of yellow on time bonuses. (Photo: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
How it happened: Bardet on late solo flier
Bardet, racing in his final pro race, went on the attack late. (Photo: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)
A day after Sunday’s wild opener, things were a bit more tempered in Monday’s 204.6km second stage from Prémilhat to Issoire.
After just 8km, Paul Ourselin (Cofidis) rides off before three riders try to counter-attack, with Romain Combaud (Picnic PostNL), Victor Guernalec (Arkea-B&B Hotels) and Chris Juul-Jensen (Jayco AlUla) chasing the wheel.
Under pressure from the GC and sprinter teams, the break was duly reeled in coming into a final circuit. Milan was distanced as UAE and Visma continued to throw punches at each other.
After Sunday’s attack-riddled finale, both teams wanted to keep the pace high to limit any unwanted aggression.
Romain Bardet (Picnic-PostNL) lit things up on the day’s final climb and carved out of a 20-second gap before the big engines in the sprint trains chased him down. Racing in his final pro race, Bardet will be chasing the King of the Mountains jersey and a stage win in his final farewell.
The “Big 3” avoided trouble as a hilly profile produced a reduced bunch kick. Pogačar (UAE Emirates-XRG) didn’t want to get in the way of the sprinters and was content to let Milan and Lidl-Trek to take over yellow.
What’s next: A long and lumpy challenge
Milan will need to get over more climbs Tuesday if he wants to defend yellow. (Photo: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
The race continues Tuesday with the 202.7km third stage from Brioude to Charantonnay.
The GC favorites and the sprinter teams will be under pressure to control the breakaways in this lumpy stage. Fireworks will come early with a Cat. 3 and a Cat. 2 stacked up right from the gun. Two more third-category and one more Cat. 4 spice things up in the lumpy and long stage that should deliver a reduced bunch sprint.
Should is the key word — things rarely go to script in today’s wild peloton.