Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) has won Stage 11 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia, the 207km long Foiano di Val Fortore-Francavilla al Mare. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) finished second and third respectively.
Jonathan Milan becomes the first sprinter to take two wins in the 2024 race after he claimed stage 4 in Andora last week. Runner up Tim Merlier was relegated for irregular sprinting. Tadej Pogacar retained the Maglia Rosa and Antonio Tiberi became the best young rider after Cian Uijtdebroeks was forced to withdraw due to sickness prior to the start at Foiano di Val Fortore.
Speaking in the press conference, the stage winner Jonathan Milan said: “The Abruzzo region brings me luck after I won my first stage of the Giro d’Italia here last year. It’s beautiful to celebrate on stage and receive another Maglia Ciclamino every day. To bring this jersey to Rome, it’s necessary to remain attentive every day. All stages are complicated and it was the case again today. The boys brought me to the front in the last kilometres. We got split up and I lost my lead out man Simone Consonni, it happens… but I found Edward Theuns again and he put me in a perfect position right on Tim Merlier’s wheel. It’s easy to say that Milan won but it’s only the visible part of the iceberg, I can only say thanks to my team-mates for the magnificent work they’ve done for me”.
The Maglia Rosa Tadej Pogacar said:Â “Maybe it looks like I’m in the first positions a bit too close to the finish line in the lead up to the sprint but today there was a crash in front of me. I always race like this. I stay in a bubble. I check what’s going on and I stay one metre behind the wheels. You never know if a crash can happen at the front or further back. I just have this philosophy that I have to stay safe and not make any mistake. With the head wind, I knew it would be a bit more difficult for me to help Seba [Molano]. I covered some accelerations until the final 3km, then it went too fast for me and it was up to the big guys to make their move. I’ve been told my team-mate Felix Grossschartner is OK after his crash. I hope he is”.
Stage 11 Brief Results
- Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) – 207 km in 4h23’18”, av speed 47.170 km/h
- Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) s.t.
- Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) s.t.
General Classification After Stage 11
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)
- Daniel Felipe Martinez (Bora – Hansgrohe) at 2’40”
- Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) at 2’58”
Jerseys
The leader jerseys of the Giro d’Italia are produced and designed by CASTELLI.
- Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by Enel –Â Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)
- Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, in collaboration with Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale and ITA Italian Trade Agency – Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
- Maglia Azzurra, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna (KOM), sponsored by Banca Mediolanum –Â Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)
- Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider, born after 01/01/1999, sponsored by Eataly – Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious)
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