Jonathan Milan holds off charging Jasper Philipsen in first stage of Renewi Tour

Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) snatched the bouquet of flowers in Bilzen in the first stage of the Renewi Tour. Jasper Philipsen had already made a solid effort to return after a flat tire and seemed to pay for it in the final sprint. He could not catch the Italian. Tim Merlier and Dylan Groenewegen also fell heavily over the finish line.

The 1st stage of the Renewi Tour in a nutshell

1. winner of the day

   Jonathan Milan once again held off everything and everyone in his usual style. Philipsen, who had to chase with 10 kilometers to go, also did not escape the claws of the growling bear. With a dominant sprint, the Italian won ahead of our compatriot and Zingle, the rest did not even come close. Milan is of course also the first leader.

2. unlucky people of the day

   Olav Kooij saw his chance for a medal slip through his fingers when he fell in a seemingly innocent bend. Dylan Groenewegen and Tim Merlier also had an unpleasant encounter with the asphalt. After the finish, the Belgian unfortunately knocked his colleague down with his jump. So, mentally and physically patching up the pieces.

3. remarkable

   In every stage race that Milan started this year, he could already triumph. To list them: 1 stage in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, 2 stages in the Tirreno-Adriatico, 3 stages in the Giro, 3 stages in the Lidl Deutschland Tour and now also at least 1 in the Renewi Tour. Has his hunger been satisfied yet? Not by a long shot.

4. morning

   Thursday we stay in Limburg. The time trial bike can be taken out of the stable, a lap of 15.4 kilometers in Tessenderlo will decide the stage winner. In advance everyone tipped for Ganna, but the Italian came out very weak today. Who will seize his chance?

Sprinters festival. A sprinters ball. Royal sprinting.

The tone beforehand was clear: superlatives were not enough to describe the wealth of participants.

All the big guns were at the start in Riemst for the opening stage of the 20th Renewi Tour. Who got a confidence boost here towards the EC in Limburg: Jasper Philipsen, Jonathan Milan, Olav Kooij, Tim Merlier or another dog?

Four Belgians, including Ceriel Desal, coloured the early breakaway together with a Frenchman. At 20 kilometres from the finish their song was over, the sprint trains were allowed on the rails.

This did not go smoothly for everyone: Visma-Lease a Bike saw its leader Kooij end up in a ditch with 15 kilometers to go, and his chance of winning the stage was mowed down with the grass.

Alpecin-Deceuninck also cursed when Philipsen had to change bikes after a breakdown with 10 kilometers to go. Rickaert did a great job and brought his teammate back to the front.

No man overboard, but this would certainly have cost a lot of energy.

After a top-notch display of muscle power by the sprinter teams, the festivities could really begin.

Lidl – Trek made speed for Milan, who launched himself from far away. Philipsen seemed perfectly positioned and came out of his wheel 100 meters from the finish, but there it stalled.

Milan, in their well-known chunky style, were able to keep the Flame at bay, and Axel Zingle also had no answer to the Italian power.

He had to dig deep, but he can still add another stage win. Number 10 already this year. Milan is also the first leader.

The wonderful sprint was marred by an ugly fall after the finish. Merlier finally threw his front wheel over the finish line as fourth, but also encountered Groenewegen on the way. Both sprint bombs had to recover for a while, they will mainly have to lick their wounds.

Jonathan Milan: “It was a really tough stage. The guys did a fantastic job staying together in the twisty finale. The sprint went up a bit, I’m still panting after the win (laughs). It’s great to be able to start this Renewi Tour with a win. I didn’t know how close Philipsen came, but I saw his shadow coming. The finish line appeared just in time. It was also really hot, then it’s hard to keep the body temperature down. It’s part of the race, then you have to keep drinking and looking for refreshment. Now I mainly have to rest for the time trial tomorrow.”

Jasper Philipsen: “I suddenly got a flat tire ten kilometers from the finish in Bilzen. That was no gift of course. The team, especially Jonas (Rickaert) did an excellent job to bring me back into the big group. That cost me a lot of energy of course, but I was still able to sprint. I started my sprint 150 meters from the finish, in Jonathan Milan’s wheel. However, I was at my limit and did not manage to catch up with him. I can’t complain, because this was only my first race after the Tour de France. I can already be satisfied with my condition.”