Having a first name that starts with a J brings good luck at the Giro right now. After Julian Alaphilippe’s magnificent number the day before during the twelfth stage, it was Jonathan Milan, the best sprinter in the Tour of Italy, who won without trembling.
Very logically, after the emotions of the day before, the Giro had slowed down its heart rate with a fairly flat day between Riccione and Cento. Obviously, the sprinters were supposed to be at the party. So, we were treated to the classic scenario of the breakaway at the start of the stage which pleases the sponsors and provides beautiful images on television. Three Italians took on this mission: Andrea Pietrobon (Team Polti Kometa), Manuele Tarozzi and Alessandro Tonelli (VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè).
The three men had their moment of media exposure but the peloton kept them in line of sight with less than two minutes remaining. And they ended up being caught 53 kilometers from the finish. During the last hour, a curb trapped Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), one of the favorites for the stage victory, for several minutes. Then, 30 km from the finish, Dries De Pooter (Intermarché – Wanty) and Martin Marcellusi (VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè) left the peloton. But the bet was too complicated. All that remained was to explain in the sprint. And in this exercise this year, there is almost no suspense. The Italian Jonathan Milan and his physical mover perfectly countered the attempt from afar by the Colombian Gaviria (Movistar) and won strongly.
Obviously, there is no change in the general classification and Tadej Pogacar (UAE) remains 2’40 ahead of his runner-up, the Colombian Daniel Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe) and 2’56’ over the Welsh Geraint Thomas ( Ineos).
