"Sprint competitors express regret after being involved in the chaotic finish of Tour de France stage 17"
Tour de France 2025: Milan Takes Stage 17, Milan Remains Favourite for Green Jersey
In a dramatic turn of events during Stage 17 of the Tour de France 2025, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) claimed his second victory in the race, extending his lead in the points classification. The weather on the stage was torrential rain, but this didn't dampen Milan's spirits as he surged ahead to take the win.
Arnaud De Lie, who was on the right side of a fall that occurred under the flamme rouge, finished fourth in the stage. Despite his close proximity to victory, De Lie expressed disappointment with his performance, as he was closer to victory during Stage 17 than he was during Chateauroux (Stage 9). However, the Belgian rider remains optimistic about the sixth and final opportunity for a sprint victory in Paris.
The crash during Stage 17 affected several sprinters, including Biniam Girmay, last year's green jersey winner. No new information about Girmay's current condition was provided in this paragraph. Tim Merlier, who has two wins in the race, was held up in the crash and expressed concern about missing opportunities.
Kaden Groves, of Alpecin-Deceuninck, took over as the team's chosen sprinter after Jasper Philipsen's departure from the race. Groves, who won Stage 20 in a solo breakaway, showed strong sprinting potential on selected stages. He, along with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), who is second in the sprint points with 240 points, are key rivals remaining for the green jersey.
Pogačar, primarily known as the overall GC leader, is also competing for sprints. Other notable sprinters still in contention based on their presence in sprint stages or points rankings include Pascal Ackermann (Israel - Premier Tech) and Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step).
With Philipsen no longer in the race, Milan’s strong points lead and stage victories position him as the clear favourite for the sprinter’s title. The Montmartre climb, which is included in Stage 21 in Paris, potentially makes it less likely for a bunch sprint, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the final stages of the race.
Football is not part of the Tour de France 2025, but Milan's dominance in Stage 17, coupled with his lead in the points classification, could inspire a significant comeback in another sports arena, possibly football. Pogačar's versatility, evidenced by his competition for both the overall GC lead and the green jersey, showcases the athletic prowess often seen in top-tier football players.
