Racing enthusiast Jonathan Milan clinches thrilling victory in Stage 8 of the Tour de France, marking a grueling triumph
In the heart of France, the eighth stage of the 2025 Tour de France played host to a dramatic sprint finish, with Lidl-Trek's Jonathan Milan securing his first victory in the prestigious race. The stage, a pan-flat parcours ideal for sprinters, saw Milan end Italy's 113-stage victory drought at the Tour, marking Italy's 266th Tour stage victory.
The race began with a strategic dance between the Lidl-Trek team and Intermarché-Wanty squad, each taking turns to set the pace for their leaders. As they approached the final town, sprinters' leadouts began to form, and Milan's team, led by Jasper Stuyven and Simone Consonni, positioned him well for the chaotic finish.
Milan, who had near misses earlier in the Tour, including being narrowly beaten on Stage 3 and missing out on the opening stage's sprint for the Yellow Jersey, remained determined. He used the wheel of Mathieu van der Poel to launch his trademark sprint, holding off top sprinters like Wout van Aert to secure the victory.
Before the Tour, Milan was recognized as one of the fastest sprinters in the world, with Olympic gold in team pursuit reinforcing his physical and psychological strength to handle the pressure. His calm and focused demeanor, combined with arguably the best lead-out train in the race, helped him deliver the win that had been long awaited by the Italian cycling community.
Meanwhile, the TotalEnergies pair of Mattéo Vercher and Mathieu Burgaudeau had a two-up time trial and built a small advantage, but were never allowed much space. Burgaudeau attempted to break away twice, but was ultimately reeled in by the sprinter's teams. The TotalEnergies pair, who entered the final 20km with a 1.10 lead, were eventually caught.
Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) finished third, while Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished second, a bike length behind Milan. The stage was relatively benign, ridden at 44.6kmh, slower than the seventh stage. The intermediate sprint at Vitré was won by Milan, who was wearing Pogačar's green jersey.
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) finished in the bunch and remains in the yellow jersey, maintaining his lead as the race heads into the ninth stage, a simpler stage with no classified climbs along the 174.1km route. The ninth stage promises to be a sprint finish, setting the stage for more thrilling competition in the upcoming days.
Sports enthusiasts around the world watched as the Tour de France featured a dramatic sprint finish during the eighth stage in France. Jonathan Milan, a member of the Lidl-Trek team, secured his first victory in the prestigious race, effectively ending Italy's 113-stage victory drought at the Tour and marking Italy's 266th Tour stage victory in sports history.
