“We nonetheless have some powerful days that await us, the climbs,” mentioned Milan. “However for the time being, we have had a whole lot of enjoyable, and I am actually proud of the way it’s going.
“We’ll hold combating for the intermediate [sprints] and on the final day for the stage, however we’ll see the way it goes. We now have a bit extra distance with the factors and I am a bit extra relaxed, however I’ll hold combating.”
Wednesday’s stage might be the ultimate alternative for sprinters to triumph this 12 months as Sunday’s finale in Paris, which historically favours the quick males, options the Montmartre climb shortly earlier than the end so it might scupper their possibilities.
Milan, who’s making his Tour debut having beforehand received the inexperienced jersey twice on the Giro d’Italia, had already claimed his maiden Tour win on stage eight.
However with Pogacar closing on him within the factors race, Lidl-Trek have been caught out yesterday as Milan was out of place to contest the intermediate dash.
This time they ensured he was on the entrance of the peloton for the dash, claiming 11 factors after the breakaway, and the crew helped Milan get well as he was dropped on the primary of two categorised climbs.
The Lidl-Trek riders then performed their half to reel within the lead group, from which Jonas Abrahamsen attacked with 12km to go solely to be caught by the peloton with 4km remaining.
The moist circumstances made for a treacherous end and though Milan prevented the crash, it put a few of his rivals out of rivalry as he sprinted to the road.
“It is a actually improbable crew victory and I’ve to thank them from the underside of my coronary heart,” Milan added.
“I survived with the assistance of my team-mates. With out this, I might not be right here. They delivered me in the very best place [for the finish].”
