Lidl-Trek made another step forward to their ultimate goal at Lidl Deutschland Tour with another impressive sprint from Jonathan Milan to take victory on Stage 3 while, Mads Pedersen continuing to lead the General Classification.
While it wasn’t a straightforward day, Lidl-Trek managed to keep control of the race on Stage 3 at Lidl Deutschland Tour to set up a final bunch sprint and help deliver Jonathan Milan to victory.
After a determined chase from the Team in the closing kilometers, it was a final long lead out from race leader, Mads Pedersen, that put the Italian in prime position to power to victory.
Jonathan Milan of @LidlTrek is the stage winner. Strong second place by the German Max Kanter from @AstanaQazTeam and third place for @jordimeeus from Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe 🏆
WHAT A STAGE! 💥💦 pic.twitter.com/1SHdufdhIV
— Lidl Deutschland Tour (@DeineTour) August 24, 2024
With one stage to go, Pedersen leads the General Classification by 12 seconds.
Race reactions 🎤
Jonathan Milan
It was a super hard day. We started with this climb after around 35km and from there until now I was really on the limit always. The parcours was always up and down and we had a few attacks on the climbs after that first one. The guys in front, in the breakaway, were riding strongly, and chasing them in the last kilometers was pretty hard. We really controlled things well with the team and, like always, I have to say a big thank you to the guys.
That’s a team 🫶@Mads__Pedersen congratulates 🎩 @AmanuelAmanyel3 after an amazing job in today’s stage👏#DeineTour pic.twitter.com/PVzLpHyorU
— Lidl-Trek (@LidlTrek) August 24, 2024
The plan was to come to a sprint today but, of course, if one of us was feeling better than the other than we would adapt the situation but everything went perfectly. We still have one stage and we will see how we will manage that tomorrow.
It means a lot to have Mads lead me out like that. He did one kilometer of lead out so it's even not enough to say he did a perfect job.
LAST KM RE-LIVE 🍿💥
What an emotional win by @LidlTrek and Jonathan Milan. Great support by former world champion Mads Pedersen 👏🏻
Congrats to @MaxKanter97 and his @AstanaQazTeam securing the 2. place!@jordimeeus finishing it off with a third place 👏🏻#deinetour pic.twitter.com/J4Qe6S4gUH
— Lidl Deutschland Tour (@DeineTour) August 24, 2024
I've worked hard this year and Lidl-Trek has given me a lot of confidence and I have had a lot of riders guiding me and I think, that has definitely contributed to the success I have had this year.
Mads Pedersen
It was physically and mentally quite tough today. The beginning, the first 90 to 95km, there was a lot of attacking and we tried to control it and that was pretty hard. Then, when could finally start to control, we had to ride fast the whole day to control the breakaway and with the heat, it was really taking its toll on everyone.
It was a pretty clear decision in the bus this morning already. I know, and everyone knows, that Jonny is a better sprinter than I am so I have absolutely no problem, on a day like this, to do the lead out for him because it's almost a guarantee that he wins a sprint like this so it would be stupid to risk not winning.
We will do our own race tomorrow. We always believe that it's better to focus on yourself but, of course, I will need to be aware of any attacks for the GC but, we are happy with the situation and we will be ready to fight for the GC again tomorrow. But again, we are also fighting for the stage win and, as long as we are doing that, then we are in the mix for keeping this leader's jersey.
