Ready, set, go... Victory. Jonathan Milan started the year with raised arms and... continues on that path. He began 2025 by conquering the opening team time trial of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and then winning the final stage in Valencia in a sprint. The Bull of Buja has shown he worked well this winter, to the extent that at the UAE Tour he took the first stage with a pure power sprint, the fourth in which he elbowed with the best sprinters on the international scene and earned the points classification. The direct confrontations with Tim Merlier ended 2-2, but to give an idea of the competitive level encountered in the Emirates race, even Jasper Philipsen, last year's Milan-Sanremo king, came up empty. After this victorious start, Milan continued winning at Tirreno-Adriatico, taking home two stages, and with an ambitious team aims to do well in the Monument of his dreams, starting with the Classicissima di Primavera.

Saturday, March 22nd, an important test awaits him, in the first year where he has given priority to the road rather than the track and will debut at the Tour de France. Although still young and with room for improvement, Jonny presents himself at the start of Milan-Sanremo for the first time with a train modeled after his own image and with concrete ambitions. After proving to be a velodrome superstar - the latest pearl, the world championship gold in individual pursuit with a world record (3'59"153) - he is on the right path also... on the road: 11 victories in 2024 and the second consecutive cyclamen jersey at the Giro d'Italia, not to mention a double tuttoBICI Oscar, were already a great starting point to try to do even better. A year ago at this time he had raised his arms to the sky "only" once, in two months this year he is already at 3. This 1.94m, 85kg powerhouse has succeeded 19 times as a professional, and the impression is that the twentieth is just around the corner.

Could you have asked for more from this start of the season?
"Exactly, we started well, as we wanted. I always aim to make a quality leap. In 2024 it happened, compared to 2023. The values and results are saying it's happening again. In my first years as a professional, I didn't win much because I first had to gain experience, learn to move, understand the mechanisms that regulate a sprint. Step by step, I got there and especially the victories obtained in recent days have given me a lot of confidence for Milan-Sanremo, considering the level of sprinters at the UAE Tour. After the very long and chaotic sprint at Liwa Palace, with the finish in the last 1500 meters pointing uphill and no one managing to catch me, I was brutally tired, but happy (and rightly so, as the data provided by Velon confirms the extremely high level of his performance: in the last 45", on an average gradient of 6.7%, he unleashed 1070 watts of power, peaking at 1580. Really high values, considering it wasn't a flat straight. With a maximum speed of 45.4 km/h, and using a 54-tooth single chainring, ed.)".

What have you worked on most to aim for the Classics?
"I've trained more generally: both in terms of hours and intensity, and in the gym. According to my trainer Mattias Reck, I can improve in everything, in power and also in moving my head and body less, trying to stay more composed in the saddle to disperse less energy instead of just pushing on the pedals. The condition is growing, the races so far have given us good feedback and if we've made some small mistakes, the important thing is to have learned and not repeat them. We've drawn up a good program and I feel ready for the challenges ahead. We're presenting ourselves in the North with a strong, motivated group, and honestly, I was happy to be home for a few days, but I can't wait to pin the number on my back again on Sunday".

You've also worked a lot on the train: which fundamental men will be by your side?
"During training camps, we've done specific lead-out training and race after race we're refining the mechanisms with Simone Consonni, Edward Theuns, Jasper Stuyven, Daan Hoole, and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier, who pulls first. All teammates are fundamental, each has their own calendar so we won't always be together, but we have excellent pieces that can be interchangeable depending on the various races. My program now includes Milan-Sanremo, De Panne, Gent-Wevelgem, Through Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix, the other Monument of my dreams. The Classicissima and the Hell of the North are two races I love and dream of making mine one day. Every year I try to get one step closer to the great result everyone aspires to. Three years ago at the Classicissima I was on the same team as Matej Mohoric, on the pavé in 2021 I shared Sonny Colbrelli's joy. Just thinking about it gives me chills. This year I really want to surpass myself and in the Classics... I hope to start collecting something".

If we only look at last year's finish order, you arrived 69th in Via Roma, how can you climb so many positions to finish first?
"Well, in 2024 the team assigned me the task of pulling before the Poggio to close on attackers and I did it as it should be, without thinking about my personal result. In such demanding races, which require great experience, I must improve season after season. If last year I almost survived the Cipressa, this year I hope to make a further improvement. Sanremo is certainly a beautiful objective to set in my sights. I aim to arrive in form and exploit what I've learned: from how to fuel myself during the race to staying as covered as possible to save energy, being careful at the crucial points of the course".

That day, the ACCPI Vademecum will be distributed to fans, on which you appear on the cover with Vittoria Guazzini and Chiara Consonni. How does it feel to be the face of Italian cycling?
"Saying that I don't feel like front-page material, there are many other riders growing well and achieving important results, for me it's an honor. It makes me immensely pleased to see children cheering for me, I feel gratitude and satisfaction for the support I receive. The challenge is primarily with myself, because I always try to overcome my limits".

Your favorite for the Milan-Sanremo Women?
"I follow women's cycling and of course I cheer for my Lidl Trek teammates. I don't know the starting list of the revived women's race, but if she's at the start, I'm betting everything on Elisa Balsamo".

And then, for the grand tours, is your Tour de France debut official?
"Yes. After Roubaix, I'll take 5-6 days of recovery after intense months, then I'll start preparing for the Grande Boucle by going to altitude and racing the Italian Road Championships. After the Northern campaign, I'll definitely also go to the track to train, to resume agility and strength work. I don't want to lose good habits".

By the way, what do you think of Villa as CT for the road?
"I didn't expect it, I read it in the newspapers and learned from Marco on the same day of the federal council. This news surprised me, but I'm happy. We'll see what beautiful experiences we can gather with him outside the velodromes. Unfortunately, this year I don't think I can be useful to the azzurri cause, the European and World routes are not suitable for people like me, but I obviously wish the best to the entire National team".

The sprint is...?
"A collection of moments. Each is different, changes based on the preceding route, the weather, can be conditioned by wind and, despite all the pre-race meeting plans, you generally have to be good at improvising. In the finale, you concentrate on every instant, try to avoid dangers, follow the movements of train teammates and the group. And seize the moment. The sprint is instinct, reason, and a bit of madness".

We've already often told about Milan outside cycling: passions for Vespa, woods, and nature walks... What can we add?
"I love sports in general. I follow a bit of everything. Particularly NHL hockey and NBA. Among my cycling models is Tom Boonen because I hope one day to excel in the Classics too, like he did, and not just in sprints. In basketball, someone I really like for his story is Giannis Antetokounmpo. He came from nothing and became an absolute star in his sport. A life like his is an inspiration: it teaches you to believe in yourself, in your dreams. In my small way, I want to raise the bar further, improve in sprints, in terms of position, gear, cadence, power. It takes time and there are no secrets. The only recipe to get where I have in mind is to do, persist, continue pushing".

from tuttoBICI March issue