Stage 11
Milan powers past a relegated Merlier
- Wednesday 15 May 2024
- 203 km
- 1,886 m climbed
- Won by Jonathan Milan
The road
At the start
A long flat run up the Adriatic
Valentin Paret-Peintre took his first professional win at the Bocca della Selva ahead of Romain Bardet, now seventh; at the top nothing has changed since the rest day. Four more sprinters climbed off yesterday. Today is 203 kilometres from Foiano di Val Fortore with its only categorised climb inside the first fifty, then a long, flat road north up the coast — a day for a strong breakaway, or for Milan and Merlier.
How it was won
- 20 km to go
Piccolo wakes the bunch
After the calmest day of the race, a dig from Andrea Piccolo with 20km left finally sparks the sprint teams into life on the Adriatic coast road.
- At the line
Milan powers past a relegated Merlier
In a messy, crash-marred finale Merlier hits the front but deviates from his line, and Milan's huge frame comes storming through on his left for the win — Merlier later relegated for the move.
The result
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonathan Milan | Lidl - Trek | 4:23:18 |
| 2 | Kaden Groves | Alpecin - Deceuninck | +0:00 |
| 3 | Giovanni Lonardi | Team Polti Kometa | +0:00 |
The route on real terrain, every moment pinned to the kilometre it happened on — and the GPX to ride it yourself.