Tour de France 2025: Jonathan Milan Flies Under the Deluge to Secure Stage 17 Victory and Tighten Grip on Green Jersey
Posted on July 23, 2025
In a dramatic and rain-soaked sprint finish, Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek powered through a chaotic final kilometer to win Stage 17 of the 2025 Tour de France in Valence, France, on July 23, 2025. The 24-year-old Italian, already donning the green jersey as the points classification leader, further solidified his hold on the coveted maillot vert with this victory, his second stage win of the 2025 Tour. Braving a torrential downpour and a late crash that disrupted the peloton, Milan’s triumph under the “deluge” showcased his raw power, tactical acumen, and resilience, cementing his status as the dominant sprinter in this year’s race. Below, we dive into the details of this thrilling stage, Milan’s journey, and the battle for the green jersey, incorporating insights from recent reports and social media sentiment.
Stage 17: A Sprint in the Storm
The 177.8km Stage 17 from Bollène to Valence was billed as one of the final opportunities for sprinters in the 2025 Tour de France, with a mostly flat profile but challenging conditions due to heavy rain. According to SPORTMAG, the stage began with aggressive attacks from the outset, as breakaway riders like Vincenzo Albanese (EF Education-EasyPost), Quentin Pacher (Groupama-FDJ), Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies), and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) formed an early escape group. Lidl-Trek, intent on protecting Milan’s green jersey, controlled the peloton, keeping the breakaway’s lead under three minutes. Milan secured fifth place in the intermediate sprint, adding crucial points to his tally.
The stage’s dynamics shifted with the Col du Pertuis climb, approximately 100km from the finish, where Milan faced significant difficulty. SPORTMAG reports that the green jersey wearer was dropped from the peloton, forcing a grueling chase through a downhill section to rejoin the main group. A crash 50km from the finish, involving riders like Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor) and Carlos Rodríguez (INEOS Grenadiers), further disrupted the peloton, though both riders quickly rejoined the race. The final climb, the Col de Tartaiguille, saw Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) launch an attack, but Lidl-Trek’s disciplined teamwork ensured the stage ended in a sprint.
As the peloton approached Valence, a torrential downpour turned the final 1.5km into a treacherous battleground. A massive crash, described by Cyclinside.it and X posts from @faustocoppi60 and @Domestique___, reduced the sprint field, with several contenders caught behind. Milan, perfectly positioned by his Lidl-Trek lead-out train, avoided the chaos and surged to victory, outpacing Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Tobias Lund Andresen (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL). “Perfect positioning and timing from Milan 🚀,” wrote @VelonCC on X, capturing the sentiment of his commanding performance.
Milan’s Green Jersey Dominance
Milan’s Stage 17 win, his second after Stage 8 in Laval, strengthened his lead in the points classification. As of July 23, 2025, IDLProCycling.com reports Milan holding 251 points, with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) at 223 points and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at 210 points. Despite earlier concerns about Pogačar and Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick-Step) closing the gap, Milan’s consistent performance in intermediate sprints and stage finishes has kept him in the green jersey since early in the race.
The Italian sprinter’s journey to this point has been remarkable. A debutant at the 2025 Tour, Milan entered with high expectations after dominating the Giro d’Italia, where he won four stages and two points classifications. His preparation, including a stage win at the Critérium du Dauphiné, showcased his ability to handle varied terrain, making him a favorite for the green jersey. Cyclist noted his “monstrously broad shoulders” and peak power nearing 1960 watts, attributes that shone in Valence’s uphill sprint finish. Despite a penalty for obstruction on Stage 9, as reported by CyclingUpToDate.com, Milan’s focus on intermediate sprints and stage wins has maintained his lead.
However, Milan remains cautious. In a post-stage interview cited by IDLProCycling.com, he acknowledged the threat posed by Pogačar, who accumulates points as the yellow jersey contender, and van der Poel, described as “Mathieu is just Mathieu” for his unpredictable brilliance. With the final stage on the Champs-Élysées featuring the Montmartre climb, Cyclinside.it warns that Milan’s green jersey is not yet secure, making Stage 17’s points haul critical.
The Deluge: A Test of Resilience
The heavy rain in Valence, dubbed the “deluge” in race coverage, tested the peloton’s mettle. The crash in the final kilometer, which Milan narrowly avoided, underscored the stage’s high stakes. X posts from @faustocoppi60 expressed relief that Milan escaped unharmed, while @Domestique___ described the sprint as “crash-marred” but celebrated Milan’s “strong grip” on the green jersey. The Lidl-Trek team’s lead-out, featuring Simone Consonni, Edward Theuns, and Jasper Stuyven, was pivotal in positioning Milan safely, as highlighted by Cyclingnews.com.
Milan’s ability to overcome the Col du Pertuis setback and navigate the chaotic finale reflects his growth as a sprinter. “I’m happy with the shape I have and I will keep fighting for more,” he said after a second-place finish on Stage 3, a mindset that carried him through Stage 17’s challenges. His victory ended a six-year drought for Italian stage wins at the Tour, a milestone he celebrated as “meaning a lot for my country” after Stage 8.
The Green Jersey Battle in Context
The 2025 Tour de France features seven flat stages, ideal for sprinters like Milan, Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), and Merlier. Cyclist predicted a competitive points race, with Milan’s versatility on lumpy terrain giving him an edge over pure sprinters. Girmay, the 2024 green jersey winner, trails with 169 points, while Merlier, with two stage wins, has 150 points. Pogačar’s unexpected contention for green, driven by his overall dominance, adds complexity, as noted by IDLProCycling.com. Van der Poel’s breakaway attempts, like his 173km effort on Stage 9, keep him in the hunt despite not prioritizing the points classification.
Milan’s Lidl-Trek team has been instrumental, with a robust sprint train ensuring he avoids the crosswinds and echelons that cost him on Stage 1. “The sprints at the Tour de France are a bit more chaotic,” Milan told CyclingUpToDate.com, crediting his team for keeping him out of trouble. The Stage 17 victory, coupled with points from the intermediate sprint, has given him a 28-point cushion over Pogačar, but the final stages, particularly the hilly Paris finale, will test his endurance.
Milan’s Journey and Impact
At 24, Milan is a rising star, with 25 career victories, including his Tour debut successes. LeTour.fr details his progression from junior races in 2017 to dominating the Giro d’Italia. His physicality (6’4”, 193cm) and climbing resistance, honed at the Critérium du Dauphiné, make him a unique sprinter capable of surviving tougher stages. His emotional response after Stage 8—“I think I still don’t understand what we did”—reflects the weight of ending Italy’s Tour stage drought since Vincenzo Nibali in 2019.
Social media sentiment, as seen in posts from @LeTour and @VelonCC, celebrates Milan’s grit and likability. Fans on X praise his “Big Friendly Giant” persona, a nickname coined by IDLProCycling.com for his imposing yet approachable demeanor. His pursuit of the green jersey, a goal he set pre-Tour, resonates with Italian fans, with @faustocoppi60 noting, “He managed to escape the massive crash… a vital victory for his Green Jersey.”
What’s Next?
With the Alps looming, Stage 17 was likely Milan’s final sprint opportunity before the Champs-Élysées. Cyclinside.it emphasizes that the Montmartre climb in the final stage could favor riders like van der Poel or Pogačar, making Milan’s points buffer critical. He’ll need to survive the mountainous stages to avoid time cuts, a challenge for sprinters, as noted by DomestiqueCycling.com. Lidl-Trek’s strategy will focus on protecting Milan’s lead while targeting additional points in any remaining intermediate sprints.
Conclusion
Jonathan Milan’s Stage 17 victory in Valence, under a deluge that tested the peloton, was a masterclass in sprinting prowess and team coordination. By avoiding a late crash and capitalizing on Lidl-Trek’s lead-out, Milan not only secured his second Tour stage win but also tightened his grip on the green jersey. With a 28-point lead over Tadej Pogačar, the Italian “Big Friendly Giant” is poised to bring the maillot vert to Paris, provided he navigates the Alps and the final stage’s challenges. His performance is a beacon of Italian cycling’s resurgence, inspiring fans and proving that dreams, as he said after Stage 8, can become reality.
Call to Action: Are you rooting for Jonathan Milan to win the green jersey? Share your thoughts on his Stage 17 triumph in the comments! Follow the Tour de France at www.letour.fr for live updates and support Milan’s quest for Paris.
Disclaimer: This article draws on reports from The Guardian, Cyclingnews.com, SPORTMAG, IDLProCycling.com, Cyclinside.it, CyclingUpToDate.com, and posts on X. Race details and points standings are based on available sources as of July 23, 2025, and may evolve. Always verify updates through official Tour de France channels.