SAN BENEDETTO DEL TRONTO – «I don't know if it's too early to think that we can make a good Sanremo – says Milan – but I know that we will get there with a very strong and united team, so we'll see. I will try to give my best, to hold on as hard as possible on the Poggio and especially on the CipressaI know they'll make a very strong move. As always, there will be attacks. For me, it will be crucial to get to the top of the hill and then maybe compete in the sprint. But these are things we'll only be able to understand once we get there. It will be crucial, during this week before the Milan-Sanremo, recover well, especially from blows. Even though I'm not feeling bad, on the contrary. It's going better than I thought and then we'll see on Saturday..."
From fall to sprint
With yesterday's victory in Frontignano, Juan Ayuso puts his signature on the sixtieth edition of the Tirreno-Adriatico. Jonathan Milan he won the final stage after that of Follonica, fourth Italian success, demonstrating that if a sprinter has the call of the last sprint, he has some extra incentive to hold on. And Milan of He had many reasons to go home early., given the fall on the day of Colfiorito and the pains of the following days to overcome the after-effects.
«It was important to complete this Tirreno-Adriatico – says Milan – a bit like closing the circleIt was a goal, we would have liked to get some more results during the week, but I haven't been very well and it was important to recover. Right after the fall I really thought about stoppingI was in a lot of pain and had problems, especially with my elbow and ankle. The bump on my side only came back later, when I realized I couldn't push my left leg.
«Obviously when you fall, the moments immediately following are the most painful. But having set off again and still having a few kilometers to go – continues Milan – I managed to unwind everything and it didn't go so badly either. Being able to ride made me understand that nothing was broken, just a lot of knocks.And it really went well that way. From that day on, I simply tried to waste as little energy as possible and group together when possible. Day after day, the team's work was fundamental. So I thank my guys for everything they've done and I'm happy with this sprint."
The many trains of Milan
Both Milan and Ganna have carefully avoided going into the specifics of the collaboration that saw them help each other in this last stageMilan paved the way for Ganna in the sprint to the intermediate finish, which earned him second place in the final standings. Ganna pulled ahead to reach the final sprint without any upsets. It was as if the spirit of the Italian quartet had descended upon the group.And Consonni's absence from the Milan train was compensated by the help of his other national teammate.
“Unfortunately, Simone went home a few days ago because he was ill,” Milan continued. “In fact, I hope he gets better too. Today was a little different, Teuns did his jobWe have already tested these lead-outs in the training camps of December and January, for be ready to change in moments when someone is missingI think it's also a key that makes my train very strong. Everyone has done their great job and I hope Jasper (Stuyven, who fell at 150 meters, ed.) recovers for the next racesI hope he wasn't hurt too badly and that it was just a few grazes. I didn't see him looking very good after arriving. Did I speak to Ganna? I complimented him on his week. As for his cooperation, I think a few things added up.
Not just Pogacar
Sanremo returns like the tolling of a pendulum in the questions and answers. His favorite is Ganna, having seen him go very fast and having offered abundant proof of it in recent daysHe has already spoken about his role, but it is difficult to say that Jonathan Milan let himself be influenced by the stakes. This was not the case even when he was deployed to the Tokyo Olympics and at twenty he dragged the quartet towards Olympic gold?
"For me all the races I do are important – confirms Milan, answering a question on the eve of the Sanremo – from the one that on paper is worth a little less to the more closed one. I take them all very seriously., because it's good to focus and maintain the routine of starting and always giving 100 percent. That's what I try to do, to get the result and also to have fun.. Also for this reason, after Roubaix I'll take a week off and then I'd like to go train on the track for a couple of days. To do some strength work, some sprints, work on agility, and also to train with the guys.
«I have no rituals, except be focused and try to be relaxed in the days before the race and also in trainingI never start out defeated. It's okay that there will be Sanremo pogacar, for example, but he won't be the only one. There will be many top riders and I think another big name to mention is Ganna. Besides Pogacar, we will also have to look at him, but personally I never start for second place.. Then it's clear that if we're talking about a climbing stage or a race that's too tough for me, I can't do much about it."
