Jonathan Milan sets new goals - 'I want to win Sanremo, Roubaix and stages in all three Grand Tours'
The green jersey from the Tour de France is no longer enough for Jonathan Milan. Speaking at the Festival dello Sport, the 25-year-old Italian outlined new ambitions for the next stage of his career.
On stage alongside former sprint great Alessandro Petacchi, Milan reflected on his breakthrough season and what comes next. Along with Petacchi and Franco Bitossi, he is one of only three Italians ever to win the Tour’s points classification. “If Jonathan fixes a few things, he can become the best sprinter in the world,” said Petacchi.
Milan, who ended Italy’s six-year wait for a Tour de France stage win, said that giving up track racing this season was a sacrifice, but one that paid off when he carried the green jersey all the way to Paris. “Winning that jersey and taking it to Paris was my dream, and I did it,” he said. It capped a strong year in which he also won two Tour stages (stage 8 and stage 17), as well as claiming victories at the Critérium du Dauphiné, the UAE Tour and Tirreno–Adriatico.
“But I really suffered in the Lourdes stage. Now I want more. I’d love to win Milan–Sanremo, though as long as they keep the Cipressa climb, I don’t think I can. And Paris–Roubaix too. This year I finished it for the first time (placing 101st) but one day I want to win it.”
Another dream is one that only a few riders in history have achieved: winning stages in all three Grand Tours, ideally within the same season. “It’s demanding, but it’s a dream of mine,” Milan said. “Even doing it once in a career would already be a huge achievement, but doing it all in one year would be the ultimate goal.”
Before leaving the stage, Milan and Petacchi discussed cycling’s new “Cannibal”, Tadej Pogačar. “He races to win,” said Petacchi. “Before him there was another Cannibal who won 525 races and never gave gifts to anyone. He made cycling history. I don’t see why Pogačar shouldn’t chase records too. Of course it annoys people, just like his team: if he doesn’t win, someone else from his team does.”
Milan nodded. “I can only agree. You train to win, not to give victories away. I just hope my team does well too, but somehow, he always ends up winning.”
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