Jonathan Milan has apologized to his Lidl-Trek teammates after failing to win stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
The Italian sprinter finished third in the mass sprint behind French rider Paul Magnier and second-place finisher Jasper Stuyven.
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The 168-kilometer stage from Fai della Paganella to Pieve di Soligo was largely controlled by Lidl-Trek, who set the pace to support their riders.
Initially, the team appeared to set up climber Giulio Ciccone on the steep Muro di Ca' del Poggio climb before switching focus to Milan.
General classification contender Derek Gee-West also contributed at the front to ensure a bunch sprint.
Despite the team's efforts, Milan found himself isolated in the final kilometer. "It was no easy day.
A big breakaway could go, it was no certain chance for a mass sprint. We tried to control it from the early stages," Milan told Eurosport.
Milan praised his teammates' work throughout the flat and mountainous sections to neutralize dangerous breakaways.
"The guys did a fantastic job, but I have to say sorry that I didn't get the result we went for.
After a fight like today you would have hoped for that," he stated.
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Positioning Mistake Proves Costly
Reflecting on the final technical layout, Milan pointed to his positioning entering the final straightaway as the deciding factor.
