Jonathan Milan claimed his second victory of this year's Tour de France by winning a wet sprint finish on Stage 17. The 160.4km stage from Bollene to Valence was marked by challenging weather conditions, with rain pouring down during the final 30km.

Key Moments of the Race

• Bunch Sprint Expected: The stage was anticipated to end in a bunch sprint, and with 4km remaining, the peloton caught the final rider from a four-man breakaway.
• Crash in Final Kilometer: Milan's sprint rivals, Tim Merlier and Biniam Girmay, were involved in a crash just inside the final kilometer, which significantly impacted their chances.
• Milan's Dominance: Milan proved too strong for Jordi Meeus, the 24-year-old Italian cyclist, as he sprinted to the line, further solidifying his grip on the green jersey for the points classification leader.

Strategic Moves

• Lidl-Trek's Tactics: The Lidl-Trek team ensured Milan was at the front of the peloton for the sprint, claiming 11 points after the breakaway. They also played a crucial role in helping Milan recover after he was dropped on the first of two categorised climbs.
• Final Push: With 12km to go, Jonas Abrahamsen attacked from the lead group, but the peloton caught him with 4km remaining, setting the stage for the dramatic sprint finish.

Impact on Standings

• Points Classification: Milan stretched his lead by 61 points, giving him a 72-point advantage over reigning champion Tadej Pogacar.
• General Classification: Pogacar, wearing the yellow jersey, crossed safely in the peloton, maintaining his overall race lead of four minutes 15 seconds. There was no change in the top 10 of the general classification standings.

Quotes from Milan

"We still have some tough days that await us, the climbs," said Milan. "But at the moment, we've had a lot of fun, and I'm really happy with how it's going. We'll keep fighting for the intermediate [sprints] and on the last day for the stage, but we'll see how it goes. We have a bit more distance with the points and I'm a bit more relaxed, but I will keep fighting."

Looking Ahead

Wednesday's stage could be the final opportunity for sprinters to triumph this year, as Sunday's finale in Paris features the Montmartre climb shortly before the finish, which could scupper their chances.

Team Victory

"This is a really fantastic team victory and I have to thank them from the bottom of my heart," Milan added. "I survived with the help of my team-mates. Without this, I would not be here. They delivered me in the best position [for the finish]."

Next Stages

The battle for the yellow jersey is set to continue on Thursday with the first of two gruelling mountain stages in the Alps.

Stage 17 Results

1. Jonathan Milan (Ita/Lidl-Trek) - 3hrs 25mins 30secs
2. Jordi Meeus (Spa/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) - Same time
3. Tobias Lund Andresen (Den, Picnic PostNL)
4. Arnaud de Lie (Bel/Lotto)
5. Davide Ballerini (Ita/XDS Astana)

General Classification After Stage 17

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Emirates-XRG) - 61hrs 50mins 16secs
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) - +4mins 15secs
3. Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) - +9mins 3secs
4. Oscar Onley (GB/Picnic PostNL) - +11mins 4secs
5. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) - +11mins 42secs

The 2025 Tour de France concludes in Paris on 27 July, with more thrilling stages and intense competition expected in the coming days.