Milan stuns himself and everyone else with Giro stage win

This was a Giro d’Italia stage for Mads Pederson of Trek Segafredo or Fernando Gaviria of Movistar. Surely, you had to put your money on them.

Perhaps it was a day for Astana’s star sprinter Mark Cavendish or fast-man Pascal Ackermann of UAE. Why you might even have had Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) or Alberto Dainese (DSM) on your list of potential winners. 

Those sprinters were all touted as contenders in stage two to San Salvo. Instead the man crossing the finish line in first place was none other than the famous and blisteringly fast Jonathan Milan (Bahrain-Very Victorious)

Ummm, who’s Jonathan Milan? 

It was in fact a chaotic and surprising finish thanks in part to a big crash at the 4 kilometer mark that took down Cavendish and held up Pedersen. 

At that moment, the peloton split with a front group of 40 left to contest the win. It was Kaden who received the benefit of the strongest lead-out but a furiously hard-charging Milan shot past in the final 100 meters. 

“I think I keep not believing it. It’s something incredible. I’m without words,” said Milan, voicing what most of the cycling world was thinking. 

It was his first Giro and on day two he scores the biggest win of his young career. “I could never imagine that today was coming a victory. I cannot believe it. I am just happy, said Milan. 

Race leader Remco Evenepoel was also pleased to have avoided the pile up that ultimately created a 19 deficit for GC riders like Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers), Lennard Kamna (Bora-Hansgrohe), Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates), Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious) and Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ). They didn’t hit the deck but they could beat up on the clock.

For Evenepoel it was day two crossed off the list, all in good shape. “Everything was pretty fine. We were in front so we were out of trouble but it was a nasty crash, I think,” he said.

“I actually saw it happen,” said Evenepoel.  “We know who we can blame for this crash, but that’s racing, it’s not a nice move but luckily we stayed out of trouble and arrived safe.” It was the same story for arch rival Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) and Joao Almeida (UAE).

On two stage three of the Giro d’Italia. Will we get another Milan-style surprise?