Jonathan Milan (Bahrain – Victorious) won the first stage of the Tour of Croatia in a sprint on Tuesday, putting on the leader’s jersey at the same time. Jonas Vingegaard, who had not raced since his victory in the Tour de France this summer, finished with the peloton for his recovery. Jonathan Milan (Bahrain – Victorious) won the first stage of the Tour of Croatia. After a final marked by the onslaught of the Slovenian Matej Mohoric (Bahrain -Victorious), finally pulled back 300 meters from the line, the Italian (21) triumphed in the pouring rain over his two countrymen Sacha Modolo (Bardiani-CSF) and Mirco Maestri (EOLO-Kometa).
The Dane Jonas Vingegaard, 25, was at ease on the hilly roads of the Balkans, following the various attacks in the final, to rank 17th in the same time as Milan despite not competing in a professional race since July 24 and his victory on the Champs-Elysées during the last stage of the Tour de France.
At the crest of the Ludbreski Vinogradi climb (3.2 kilometers at 3.9%), where the peloton was reduced to an absolute minimum, he was not successful in breaking away from the pack. Geraint Thomas, who was third in the previous Grande Boucle behind Vingegaard and the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, finished in an unbelievable 94th place, 1 minute and 19 seconds behind the champion. Geraint Thomas was another star who recovered in Croatia.