Italian Cyclist Jonathan Milan Wins First Tour de France Stage in 2025

Italian cyclist Jonathan Milan of the Lidl-Trek team clinched his first Tour de France stage victory on July 12, 2025, by winning Stage 8 in a sprint finish. The 171.4-kilometer route from Saint-Méen-le-Grand to Laval saw Milan outpace Belgian Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Australian Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) to the finish line. This victory marked the first Italian stage win in the Tour since 2019.

Milan's triumph ended a 113-stage drought for Italian cyclists in the Tour de France, a significant milestone for the nation's cycling community. His performance also earned him the green jersey, signifying his lead in the points classification. Defending champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) retained the yellow jersey, maintaining his overall lead in the general classification.

The stage began in Saint-Méen-le-Grand, the hometown of three-time Tour winner Louison Bobet, and concluded in Laval. The predominantly flat course featured only one categorized climb, the Côte de Nuillé-sur-Vicoin, a 0.9 km ascent at 3.8% gradient, located at kilometer 155. The race unfolded under sunny conditions, with temperatures reaching approximately 22.8°C (73°F).

The peloton maintained a steady pace throughout the stage, with a notable breakaway attempt by French riders Mathieu Burgaudeau and Matteo Vercher around the 80-kilometer mark. Their effort was neutralized with nine kilometers remaining, setting the stage for a mass sprint finish. In the final meters, Milan executed a well-timed sprint, overtaking Groves and holding off van Aert to claim victory.

Born on October 1, 2000, in Tolmezzo, Italy, Jonathan Milan has made significant strides in both track and road cycling disciplines. He was part of the Italian team that won gold in the team pursuit at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, setting a world record. On the road, Milan has secured multiple stage victories at the Giro d'Italia in 2023 and 2024, as well as wins at the Saudi Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Tour of Guangxi.

Reflecting on his victory, Milan stated, "I knew it was important to win today. It’s really nice to get it after all the efforts from the whole team." He emphasized the collective effort, noting, "When you have a full team believing, it makes things easier."

Milan's victory is the first for the Lidl-Trek team in the 2025 Tour de France, underscoring their competitive presence in the peloton. By securing the green jersey, Milan positions himself as a formidable contender in the points classification, adding depth to the competition for the sprinter's title.

In the general classification, Tadej Pogačar continues to lead with a cumulative time of 29 hours, 48 minutes, and 30 seconds. He maintains a 54-second advantage over Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick-Step) and a 1-minute, 11-second lead over Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels).

The start town of Saint-Méen-le-Grand holds historical significance as the birthplace of Louison Bobet, a three-time Tour de France winner from 1953 to 1955. Laval, the finish town, has hosted notable Tour events, including a time trial in 2021 where Pogačar secured a victory.

Milan's victory not only highlights his personal achievements but also signifies a potential resurgence for Italian cycling on the world stage. As the Tour progresses, all eyes will be on Milan and the Lidl-Trek team to see if they can build on this momentum in the upcoming stages.