Milan wins stage two and takes yellow jersey at the Dauphine

Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek clinched victory in stage two of the Critérium du Dauphiné, winning with a dramatic sprint finish in Issoire. This victory not only marks Milan's first road race win in France but also propels him into the prestigious yellow jersey, previously held byTadej Pogacar

The second stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné unfolded over a challenging 204.6 kilometers, starting from Premilhat and culminating in a nail-biting finish in Issoire. As the race approached its climax, Lidl-Trek's lead-out train surged to the front in the final kilometer, positioning Milan perfectly for a decisive sprint. With 150 meters remaining, Milan found himself alone, fending off fierce competition from cycling superstar Mathieu van der Poel, the winner of this year's Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix.

Milan's determination shone through as he held off van der Poel's relentless pursuit, ultimately crossing the finish line first. British rider Fred Wright followed closely, securing second place ahead of van der Poel, who rounded out the podium in third.

"This victory means a lot to me and to the entire team," said the 24-year-old Milan, visibly emotional after the race. "It was really tough. Yesterday and today, I suffered a lot. At one point, I was really on the limit, but I have to say thanks to my teammates because they brought me back. We knew we had to take the last corner at the front, and it was just a perfect lead-out. I’m really happy."

Local favorite Romain Bardet, competing in his farewell professional race, made a bold move on the final categorized climb, building a 20-second lead. However, lacking support in the breakaway, he was ultimately reeled in by the peloton, which allowed Lidl-Trek to set up Milan for the final sprint.

With this victory, Milan not only takes the yellow jersey but also dethrones Pogacar, who had claimed the opening stage on Sunday. The excitement builds as stage three is set to commence in Bardet's hometown of Brioude, promising another exhilarating chapter in this year's Critérium du Dauphiné.