Jonathan Milan sprints to Giro d'Italia stage 13 victory after surviving crosswinds
The Lidl-Trek rider took his third win of the race on flattest day


Jonathan Milan powerfully sprinted to victory on stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia, after surviving a tense time in the crosswinds.
The Lidl-Trek rider was among those distanced as the race threatened to be blown apart in the winds on Friday, but came back to win in Cento.
Stanisław Aniołkowski (Cofidis) came second, with Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) in third. Milan's victory strengthened his lead in the points classification.
Meanwhile, there was no change in the general classification, with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) keeping the pink jersey, 2:40 ahead of Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe).
The wind briefly tore up a calm day, with the peloton split into three pieces with about 60km to go. While all the big names on GC were in the front, Milan was among those distanced. Fortunately, he was there with most of his teammates.
"Let's say that it was a moment where I stopped, and these echelons happened," the sprinter said post-race. "The guys did an amazing job, like always. We pushed full gas to come back and catch the first group. Then we always stayed in the front, and they delivered me to the perfect position.
"We started this finish really well. We knew that we had to come in the last corner with Simone, and he had to start his leadout from 400m to go. We did it like this, it was impressive how the guys rode today, and how everyone did his part, how everyone pulled, how everyone pushed for this team goal.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"At the end when everyone is believing in all this, this is the end. I'm just super happy, super proud of the guys, of my team. Like always, I have to say thanks to them."
How it happened
There were just 202 metres of elevation in 179km on stage 13, so it looked certain to be a day for the sprinters in Emilia-Romagna.
Andrea Pietrobon (Polti Kometa), and Alessandro Tonelli and Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) essentially attacked from the minute the flag dropped, and that set the tone of the day.
The trio built up a lead that hovered around two minutes for most of the day, as the peloton were content to let them off on a long leash.
The race was quiet until two hours in, when on a right-hand bend, Ineos Grenadiers put the pressure on through Tobias Foss, and their power caused a split in the bunch.
While those high up on GC like Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) were all at the front of the race, others were caught out.
Einer Rubio (Movistar), ninth on GC, and Domenico Pozzovivo (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) were both in the second half of the split, along with sprinters like Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek).
Lidl and Milan himself put a lot of effort into repair the breach in the peloton, and things came back together with 43km to go.
Things then were set up for a bunch sprint, despite a late attack from Martin Marcellusi (VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè) and Dries De Pooter (Intermarché-Wanty), which came to nothing.
The racing seemed tense inside the final 10km, as wide roads suddenly gave way to twisting city streets, but there were no major incidents.
Lidl-Trek delivered Jonathan Milan perfectly to open up his sprint. While Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) went first, he was easily overhauled, and Milan won for a third time at this Giro.
Results
Giro d'Italia 2024, stage 13: Riccione > Cento (179km)
1. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek, in 4:02:03
2. Stanisław Aniołkowski (Pol) Cofidis
3. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain Victorious
4. Tim van Dijke (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike
5. Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Israel-Premier Tech
6. Fernando Gaviria (Col) Movistar
7. Juan Sebastián Molano (Col) UAE Team Emirates
8. Laurence Pithie (NZl) Groupama-FDJ
9. Giovanni Lonardi (Ita) Polti Kometa
10. Alberto Dainese (Ita) Tudor, all at same time
General classification after stage 10
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, in 45:22:35
2. Daniel Martinez (Col) Bora-Hansgrohe, +2:40
3. Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Ineos Grenadiers, +2:56
4. Ben O'Connor (Aus) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale, +3:39
5. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) bahrain Victorious, +4-27
6. Romain Bardet (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL, +4-57
7. Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan, +5:19
8. Filippo Zana (Ita) Jayco-AIUla, +5:23
9. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar, +5:28
10. Thymen Arensman (Ned) Ineos Grenadiers, +5:52
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling, he's happy. Before joining CW in 2021 he spent two years writing for Procycling. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds.
Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to riding bikes.
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How to watch Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025: Everything you need to live stream the cobbled Belgian Classic
All the information on broadcasters and live streams for Dwars door Vlaanderen on 2 April, as Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Marianne Vos and Lotte Kopecky take on the cobbles.
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock’s Q36.5 receive Giro d’Italia wildcard invite along with Tudor Pro Cycling
Team Polti Visit Malta and VF Group BardianiCSF - Faizane also receive invitations from RCS
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Extra wildcard team approved for Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España
Number of teams to increase from 22 to 23 at men's Grand Tours
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'My biggest victory' - Juan Ayuso seals Tirreno-Adriatico overall, as Jonathan Milan sprints to victory on stage 7
Spaniard looks ahead to Giro d'Italia after claiming second GC victory of his career
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I never really had a Plan B' - Dan Martin on his cycling career and getting into running after retirement
The two-time Tour de France stage winner takes part in Cycling Weekly’s Q&A
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It is time to change goals' - Egan Bernal's coach confirms Ineos Grenadiers exit
'I want to thank all the cyclists I have had the opportunity to coach over the past ten years' Xabier Artetxe says in LinkedIn post
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart aims to 'be competitive, even in small races' as he starts 2025 under the radar
‘I think it's a little bit nonsensical to look past that and to start looking at big goals’ says 29-year-old Lidl-Trek rider as he explains he will start the year at the Volta ao Algarve
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'He’s at the age now where he's coming into his prime' - Where does Tadej Pogačar go next after a year of unequalled domination?
Becoming the first male rider since 1987 to complete cycling’s hallowed triple crown earns the Slovenian this year’s prize. Tom Thewlis salutes a spectacular year
By Tom Thewlis Published