In a challenge between the best sprinters in the world, Jonny Milan emerges the victor to take the 40th win of the Lidl-Trek men in 2024
Jonny Milan’s golden moment continues to gleam after an impressive performance at the Lidl Deutschland Tour last week. In Belgium, the Lidl-Trek train continued full steam ahead to conquer the first stage of Renewi Tour (163km from Riemst to Bilzen).
In a chaotic and hard-fought sprint, Milan finalized an excellent team effort, bringing his personal victory tally to ten.
It was a really tough ride today, first of all for the hot weather. It’s quite difficult to manage days like this, so I’m really happy that, in the end, we were able to perform one more time at our best. I think the guys did such an amazing job, even in the final when it was super tricky to stay together - Jonny Milan
#RenewiTour B-E-A-UTIFUL! 😍 pic.twitter.com/GOSLhEXS3M
— Lidl-Trek (@LidlTrek) August 28, 2024
The sprint, given the stage profile and the interest of almost all the teams, was within the day’s expectations. The early breakaway was controlled and caught without too much worry, but along the way Lidl-Trek unfortunately lost Daan Hoole, who had to abandon the race after a crash. The Dutchman has suffered due to a series of contusion to his right hand side.
Hoole’s exit from the scene forced the team to revise the management of the tricky approach to the sprint, but but it didn’t dull the ambition.
A first mass sprint. A first winner!
Jonathan Milan wins the opening stage of this Renewi Tour! 💥 #RenewiTour pic.twitter.com/XOXTG7t1LX— Renewi Tour (@RenewiTour) August 28, 2024
Jonathan’s race reaction 🎤
We tried to manage it as much as possible. Mosca and Simmons did a such hard work keeping the situation under control till the final kilometers, then Theuns and Stuyven were like gold positioning me. Consonni did the last push keeping me in the wheels of Van der Poel and Philipsen.
It was uphill, I don’t know at which distance I started my sprint but it was really tough and I’m still really, really tired from it. The guys positioned me in a perfect way. It was a tricky final, small roads, up and down. I came out of it and just tried to do the best sprint I could do. I went pretty long with my sprint you and yeah, in the end I was lucky and fast enough that no one came from behind. I don’t know how close Philipsen came, but I was seeing his shadow coming and then, finally, the finish line arrived.
We’re super happy to start also this Renewi Tour in a good way. I’m living a good momentum. At the Lidl Deutschland Tour we presented a super performance as a team, and today also. I can see a couple of good chances again, but first I want to focus on tomorrow’s time trial. I’ll look to do something nice there.
Photo gallery 📸
