Another truly beautiful finish to the 2024 Giro d’Italia. Fourth stage on the roads of Milan-Sanremo with arrival in Andora, it flew by again (grabbed at the last second) and this time the first Italian success arrived: Jonathan Milan redeems himself after yesterday’s second place and finds the second success of his career in the Corsa Rosa.
Four riders went on the attack in the first phase of the race: Francisco Munoz (Team Polti Kometa), Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers), Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché Wanty) and Stefan de Bod (Education Easy Post). After a few kilometers Ganna gave up his attack, being caught by the chasing platoon (Lidl-Trek the most active team) about 3′ from the summit.
Subsequently, Calmejane, after having grabbed the points at the GPM, also said goodbye to the company of the first hour’s attackers, leaving de Bod and Munoz in command, who resisted the group’s comeback until the approach of Capo Mele. In the peloton it is worth mentioning, during a moment of rain, a bad fall which involved Ben O’Connor among others and which forced Biniam Girmay to retire.
The final climb, known at Milan-Sanremo, has begun here is the shot by Filippo Ganna: it seemed he was in front to favor his captain Geraint Thomas, but instead the Ineos Grenadiers pacer attempted the solitary sortie. Behind, many tried to get behind the wheel of the Piedmontese, but without succeeding (including Pellizzari).
Lidl-Trek picked him up with a monstrosity Simone Consonni to launch Jonathan Milan: again a very long sprint for the Italian sprinter who this time left no room for comebacks, dominating the sprint. Kaden Groves (Alpecin – Deceuninck) and Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain – Victorious) were beaten, with Merlier only fifth. In Italy, placings also went to Davide Ballerini (Astana Qazaqstan Team), sixth, Enrico Zanoncello (VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè), eighth, and Giovanni Lonardi (Team Polti Kometa), tenth.
