Jonathan Milan out of Milan-Sanremo as Lidl-Trek’s bad luck continues

It marks another setback for a team that has already seen several of its key riders sidelined during the early part of the campaign.

“Unfortunately, Jonathan became ill after Tirreno-Adriatico and needs to rest in order to recover. As a result, he will skip Milan-Sanremo,” Lidl-Trek confirmed on Wednesday.

The timing is a disappointment for Milan, who had shown strong form just days earlier by winning the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico. Riding on home roads at La Primavera, however, the increasingly aggressive approach on the Cipressa and Poggio would likely have left him on the back foot.

Milan’s own record at the race is modest, with a best result of 69th in 2024, and his absence is unlikely to alter the outcome at the very front of the race, though it does remove a fast finisher from any secondary sprint scenarios behind.

For Lidl-Trek, Milan’s absence adds to a growing list of setbacks. Mads Pedersen, another cornerstone of the team’s Classics campaign, is also ruled out after sustaining multiple injuries in a crash at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.

Elsewhere, Thibau Nys recently underwent knee surgery, further reducing the team’s options, while Juan Ayuso was forced to abandon Paris-Nice following a crash. The Spaniard has since returned to training, offering at least some positive news amid an otherwise difficult start to the season.

Despite the setbacks, Lidl-Trek will still bring a competitive line-up to Milan-Sanremo. Mathias Vacek and Søren Kragh Andersen are expected to step into more prominent roles, with the latter boasting a consistent record in the race, including three top ten finishes.