Top sprinter Milan sprints to his next victory

Italian professional cyclist Jonathan Milan has won the eleventh stage of the Giro d’Italia. After 207 largely flat kilometers from Foiano di Val Fortore to Francavilla al Mare, the 23-year-old from the Lidl-Trek team prevailed in the mass sprint ahead of the Belgian Tim Merlier and Kaden Groves from Australia. Milan celebrated its second stage win of the tour and extended its lead in the points classification.

Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) came ninth as the best German. The remaining German drivers around veteran Simon Geschke (Cofidis), who impressed with a strong sixth place on Tuesday, had nothing to do with the decision.

The overall ranking of the 107th Tour of Italy continues to be confidently led by top star Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates). Behind them are Daniel Martinez from the German Bora-hansgrohe racing team (+2:40 minutes) and Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers/+2:56).

Uijtdebroeks has to pass

Before the start of the stage, the Dutch top team Visma-Lease a Bike had to cope with the next bitter setback. Cian Uijtdebroeks, who had previously placed fifth, had to withdraw due to illness. He is the team’s fourth rider to have to give up the Giro early.

Right at the start, a group of three led by Edoardo Affin, Tim van Dijke (both Visma-Lease a Bike) and Thomas Champion from Cofidis broke away. The escapees stayed in front for a long time, but were caught again by the peloton just under 35 kilometers from the finish.

Meanwhile, Geschke gained one point in the mountains classification on Pogacar. The 38-year-old is still 45 points behind. Nevertheless, Geschke can also wear the blue mountain jersey on the undulating twelfth stage over 193 kilometers from Martinsicuro to Fano on Thursday because Pogacar continues to wear pink. Geschke, who is retiring at the end of the season, led the mountains classification for nine days in the Tour de France in 2022 before he was intercepted.