"Regret permeated the day's toil for sprinters, as an unfortunate crash marred the conclusion of Tour de France stage 17"
Jonathan Milan Shines in a Competitive Sprint Field at the Tour de France
After the withdrawal of Jasper Philipsen from the 2022 Tour de France, the remaining top sprinters included Jonathan Milan, Arnaud De Lie, Jordi Meeus, Tobias Lund Andresen, and Davide Ballerini, among others.
In the 2025 Tour de France, Milan solidified his prominence among the sprinters, winning Stage 17 in Valence and leading the points classification by a significant margin. Other strong sprinters, such as De Lie, Meeus, Lund Andresen, and Ballerini, also featured prominently in top stage finishes.
During Stage 17, Jonas Abrahamsen was part of the breakaway, while De Lie was close to victory but lost positions due to a crash. The crash, caused when a Picnic PostNL rider touched wheels with a Uno-X Mobility rider, affected many riders, including Biniam Girmay, last year's green jersey winner, whose current condition is unknown.
Despite the crash, Milan emerged victorious, marking his second victory in the race. Arnaud De Lie, on the other hand, finished fourth in Stage 17, expressing disappointment with his position but remaining optimistic about his chances in the final stage, Paris. De Lie believes his team and his current form give them big ambitions for the final stage.
Tim Merlier, who has won two stages in the Tour de France, was held up in the crash and expressed concern about missing opportunities. Kaden Groves also expressed frustration due to a crash in the finishing kilometre.
De Lie believes he could have had a better chance of fighting for victory in Stage 17 if he hadn't touched Milan's wheel. However, his compatriot, Lotto's Arnaud De Lie, was on the right side of the fall and remains a strong contender for the final stage.
In the points classification, Milan strengthened his lead, indicating his dominance in the sprint competition. As the Tour de France enters its final stages, the competition among the top sprinters promises to be intense and exciting.
Jonathan Milan continues to stand out in the sprint field, as he strengthened his lead in the points classification after winning Stage 17. Other top sprinters, such as Arnaud De Lie, Jordi Meeus, Tobias Lund Andresen, and Davide Ballerini, also showcase their skills in top stage finishes, making the remaining stages of the Tour de France an intense and exciting competition among the sprint field.
