Jonathan Milan claimed his second victory at the Giro d’Italia 2024 on Stage 11, winning in a thrilling sprint finish in Francavilla Al Mare. The 207km route from Foiano Di Valfortore featured a mostly flat course with 1800m of climbing in the first 60km, creating opportunities for breakaways. Thomas Champion of Cofidis was the sole rider to initially break away, with Visma-Lease A Bike’s Eduardo Affini and Tim van Dijke eventually joining him. Despite the potential for attacks from the peloton, no other riders made a move, allowing the trio to maintain a steady lead for most of the race.
As the race entered the final 30km, Champion, Affini, and Van Dijke were absorbed back into the peloton, setting the stage for a sprint finish. The relatively straightforward final kilometers posed a challenge for riders, with potential obstacles threatening to disrupt the lead-out trains. Tadej Pogacar of Lidl-Trek briefly lost position after going the wrong way around a roundabout but quickly regained his spot near the front of the pack. Ineos Grenadiers worked to protect Geraint Thomas, while Alpecin-Deceuninck and Soudal-Quickstep controlled the front of the peloton as the race approached the final sprint.
With 500m to go, a crash involving an Intermarche-Wanty rider created chaos in the pack, with riders narrowly avoiding a larger pile-up. Bert Van Lerberghe led out for Tim Merlier, with Milan and Groves in close pursuit. Milan and Groves powered past Merlier in the final meters, with Milan ultimately taking the victory. Pogacar maintained his hold on the maglia rosa, with Thomas closing the gap to second place Dani Martinez. The stage win marked Milan’s second triumph at the Giro d’Italia 2024, showcasing his sprinting prowess and ability to navigate challenging race conditions.
The stage itself was the second-longest of the Giro, featuring a route that traced a northerly path down Italy’s ankle towards the Adriatic coast. Despite the flat finish in Francavilla Al Mare, the course’s climbing sections early in the race suggested opportunities for attackers to make a move. However, with only three riders in the breakaway and little interest from the peloton, Champion, Affini, and Van Dijke were left to dangle at the front for most of the stage. The lack of aggressive racing allowed the sprinters’ teams to prepare for a fast finish in the final kilometers.
The chaotic sprint finish in Francavilla Al Mare saw Milan emerge victorious after a well-executed race that showcased his sprinting abilities. Ineos Grenadiers and other teams worked to protect their leaders and set up their sprinters for the final dash to the line. Despite challenges such as a late-roundabout mishap and a crash in the peloton, Milan navigated the obstacles to claim his second win of the Giro d’Italia. As the race continued, riders like Pogacar and Thomas maintained their positions at the top of the general classification, setting the stage for further battles in the remaining stages of the race.
