"We'll try again tomorrow": these are words that Simone Consonni he told us yesterday after arriving in Fossano. After 24 hours and 190 kilometers, the verdict, or rather the verdicts, were reversed. First Jonathan MilanAnd the one who was the most heartbroken yesterday is the happiest today. And it's Simone.
Al Tour of Italy number 107 thus comes the first Italian victory. If this isn't a liberation, it's close to it. But allow us a word of caution.
Yesterday after that arrival, while the boys of the Lidl Trek they gathered and there was that hint of sadness, Milan was the calmest, the most serene. Today we were almost certain he would win. The Friulian had the expression of someone who has everything under control. Of someone who has understood what he did wrong and, above all, knows his own potential.
I'll step back
There's a scene that really stuck with us. The boys gather. Consonni excitedly explains what went wrong, and Johnny, looking at him with a seraphic calm, nods as if to say: “Don’t worry, buddy, we’ll make up for it tomorrow.”
The sprint is practically perfect. The Lidl-Trek train could compete with a Frecciarossa. It hurtles from Capo Mele at breakneck speed. Consonni comes out at 800 meters and Milan stamps him. He waits but doesn't go out, as Simone's speed is very high. When he sees the other sprinters go out of the corner of his eye, he does too. Game over, and arms raised to the sky.
That terrifying scream
The windows of Andora must have trembled at the sound of Milan's scream. In that moment, there's strength, adrenaline, and joy. But also confidence, as I said. Confidence in himself and in the team.
«At 900 meters – said Milan – we managed to get Pippo (Ganna, ed.) back. In a way it also helped us as it acted as a reference point and raised the speed. Then it was Simone's turn and it was a fantastic lead-out.
«As far as I'm concerned I started off a bit long perhaps, But it went well anyway. I'm very excited. I said from the start that I wanted to win here, and everyone on the team did their job perfectly. It's a great feeling to be back on the top step. My teammates believed in me today."
Perfect train conductor
And then there's him, Simone Consonni, the "train conductor," as we called him yesterday. He's the one managing the situation. He kept an eye on the road and his teammates. Skills few can match.
«We wanted this victory – said Simone – we are here as a whole for Jonathan. Yesterday's second place stung a bit, we lost our composure towards the end, but today we stayed united. As you can see, we were in a good position, not just for the final stage, but throughout the entire stage. It was a team victory. Ghebreigzabhier did a tremendous job, that guy shoots like a charm! But also “Bagio,” Hoole… and then in the final, there were four of us and the mechanisms worked.
«Theuns and I have a good relationship between Valencia and Tirreno. Jasper Styuven has joined us, but he's one of the top players in the group. And besides integrating, he gives us something extra, especially in terms of gaining positions for the final kilometer. Someone like him is capable of stretching the group even when we're going fast."
Chaos and high rhythms
Simone then emphasizes the sort of revenge Fossano had. From the fact that they were a bit disunited to today's unity, he also emphasizes how the sprint was more chaotic than it might seem.
"The last 40 kilometers were incredible," the Lidl-Trek athlete continues. "We were going incredibly fast, with a lot of nerves. There were often maneuvers that were at the limit, if not beyond. But that's how sprints are these days."
«With these little tears at the end they are even worse. In these two days I think I did the two most chaotic sprints since I started running, even worse than those of the UAE Tours, which are renowned for their chaos. But it's nice. It's nice because with a Jonathan like this, (almost) everything is easy."
Consonni explains that at the entrance to Capo Mele, he fell a bit behind. But he didn't panic. He was in the lead right at the top, right where he should have been right behind Stuyven.
«I'm not saying it's easy – continues Simone – but in the end even if everyone is there, only Philipsen is missing, seeing us as a group of four and knowing that Milan is the reference sprinter, they somehow leave us space. In the end they set the sprint on us."
The last comment we get from Consonni concerns the hug, to say the least, that Milan gave him.
«Yes, yes, strong – concludes Simone – but in those moments immediately after the arrival you can also take two slaps that you don't feel, so much is the joy and the adrenaline. But Things went worse for Houle. When Johnny got on the bus, he gave him a couple of slaps on the helmet, which left him dazed for a quarter of an hour. When he has adrenaline running through him, he can split you in two!
Hats off to Goofy
Distance, Power, Speed, Tactics. The three key elements of Andora's final. Speed Jonathan Milan, the power of Filippo Ganna, Simone Consonni's tactical acumen. But while we've only mentioned the first two, Pippo's attack also deserves great praise.
An attack that made this sprint even more epic, enough to put it in danger near the Capo Mele summit. Ganna starts at the 4-kilometer mark. Just like in the track pursuit. Maybe it was because Milan and Consonni were right next to him, maybe he got confused.
Great action, maybe a little early. At the end, Goofy is proud, but also disappointed. Perhaps he really thought it was a coup.
