Jonathan Milan Wins Small Version of Milan-Sanremo in Fourth Stage of Giro d’Italia

The small version of Milan-Sanremo in the fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia was won by Jonathan Milan. After one win in his Giro debut last year, this is Milan’s second win in the Tour of Italy.

In the bottom sprint on the streets of Andora, the Italian sprinter from Lidl-Trek was faster on the line than Kaden Groves and Phil Bauhaus, after many cyclists rode over a familiar track in the last 60 kilometers. The end of the stage was in the annual period before the final of the cycling monument from Milan to Sanremo.

Heading down the Ligurian coast, the pink leader’s jersey remained on the shoulders of Tadej Pogacar, who had 190 kilometers without a problem in the saddle.

On the last hill of the day, Filippo Ganna made a strong effort to surprise the sprinters. The Ineos time trial specialist was in the early break earlier in the day, but then dropped back to the peloton. With four kilometers to go he broke away from the big group on the Capo Mele, the last mountain of the day.

The pace increased in the descent near the finish, where teams of the sprint favorites took over Ganna who escaped in the last kilometer. Lidl-Trek was in control and delivered a good start for Milan, after which the Italian was the strongest in the sprint.

Olav Kooij was the best Dutchman in fourth place, the young sprinter from Visma-Lease a Bike crossed the line just ahead of Tim Merlier, who won in Fossana a day before. Merlier will have to relinquish his purple points jersey to the Milan stage winner.

For other riders it was a less pleasant fourth day in the Giro, partly because of the rain. Biniam hit Girmay twice, after which he gave up the fight and got into his Wanty team car. Fabio Jakobsen, one of the Dutch sprint hopefuls in Andora, was behind for a long time.

The longest climb of the day, halfway through the stage, was too difficult for the sprinter from the company DSM PostNL who was plagued by illness. Jakobsen was far behind, he came back with the help of teammates, but he didn’t get around to sprinting in Andora.