Tour de France rivals Jonathan Milan and Biniam Girmay patch up their disagreement; lingering tension looms over stage 3's sprint competition?
In the heart-pounding intensity of the intermediate sprint during Stage 2 of the Tour de France 2025, a heated moment unfolded between cyclists Jonathan Milan and Biniam Girmay. The confrontation, which saw Milan expressing frustration with Girmay, was reportedly due to a perceived encroachment or disruption of his sprint by Girmay[2][4][5].
The altercation, though intense, appeared to be a result of the highly competitive and tense nature of the sprint, where every rider fiercely defends their position[2]. During the heat of the moment, Milan felt that Girmay got too close or obstructed him, which, in sprinting, can lead to dangerous situations and loss of points[2].
Following the stage, both Milan and Girmay shared a handshake, indicating that the altercation had been resolved[6][7]. Intermarché-Wanty, Girmay's team, shared a photo of the handshake on Instagram, captioning it as "That's cycling. Tour de France gets intense and we love watching the champions competing with rivalry and respect."[8]
It is worth noting that both Milan and Girmay missed out on victory on Stage 1 of the Tour de France. However, with another sprint chance expected in Dunkerque at the end of Stage 3, the duo is expected to battle each other for victory in future stages[9].
The Tour de France, the biggest race in cycling, offers unrivalled coverage through a Cyclingnews subscription. With the subscription, subscribers gain access to breaking news, analysis, pro tech, live race reports, and a daily subscriber-only newsletter with exclusive insight into the action[3]. Intermarché-Wanty also made a light-hearted joke about the altercation on their social channels[10].
Sprinter Jonathan Milan, riding for Lidl-Trek, won the day's intermediate sprint, earning him 11 points[1]. The Tour de France continues to captivate audiences with its intense competition and camaraderie among the riders.
[1] Sprinter Jonathan Milan Wins Intermediate Sprint at Tour de France 2025 [2] Altercation during Intermediate Sprint at Tour de France 2025 [3] Subscribe to Cyclingnews for Unrivalled Tour de France Coverage [4] Jonathan Milan and Biniam Girmay's Heated Sprint Clash at Tour de France 2025 [5] Tour de France 2025: The Intense Intermediate Sprint Between Milan and Girmay [6] Jonathan Milan and Biniam Girmay Share Handshake After Stage 2 of Tour de France 2025 [7] Tour de France 2025: Milan and Girmay Sprint Altercation Resolved [8] Intermarché-Wanty Posts Handshake Photo After Milan-Girmay Sprint Altercation [9] Future Battles Expected Between Jonathan Milan and Biniam Girmay After Tour de France 2025 Altercation [10] Intermarché-Wanty Makes Light-Hearted Joke About Milan-Girmay Sprint Altercation on Social Channels
Sprinter Jonathan Milan's victory in the intermediate sprint during Stage 2 of the Tour de France 2025 was hard-fought, with a tense moment occurring between Milan and Biniam Girmay due to perceived encroachment or disruption of his sprint. Despite the heated altercation, both cyclists demonstrated sportsmanship by sharing a handshake after the stage.
