Tirreno-Adriatico 2024: Jonathan Milan edges sprint on Stage 4 as breakaway hero Jonas Abrahamsen denied

Jonathan Milan (Lidl–Trek) outsprinted Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin–Deceuninck) in a thrilling finale to Stage 4 at Tirreno-Adriatico as breakaway hero Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) came within a whisker of pulling off a stunning win.

With 1km remaining, and fellow escape acts Alexander Kamp (Tudor) and Mirco Maestri (Polti-Kometa) swept up, it seemed Abrahamsen’s fate was inevitable.

But the Norwegian refused to relent and kept the pack at bay into the home straight, grinding the pedals desperately – and wearily – after being out front for the majority of the 207km ride from Arrone to Giulianova.

It looked as though he might hold on until Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) hit out early from the bunch, taking the sprinters with him and allowing Milan, Philipsen and Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty) to swoop past in the hunt for victory.

Milan snuck across the line first to move into the overall lead courtesy of time bonuses, with Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) dropping into second, four seconds adrift but in the knowledge the mountains are coming on Friday and Saturday.

On a stage featuring the first major climb at the race, an early breakaway formed.

Abrahamsen, Kamp and Maestri were joined by Lorenzo Quartucci (Corratec-Vini Fantini), Davide Bais (Polti-Kometa) and Alex Tolio (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane) as the six-strong group moved four minutes clear before the ascent of Valico di Castelluccio.

The gap came down as they tackled the climb, but then extended again as the peloton moved through fog.

There appeared no immediate eagerness to close the breakaway, but the lead began to be slowly chiselled away with around 70km to go.

By the 30km mark it was down to a minute as teams eyed another sprint finish, prompting the break to splinter as Abrahamsen, Kamp and Maestri broke clear.

The trio worked brilliantly together to hold onto their lead as the flamme rouge beckoned. But with a hungry pack now just seconds behind, Kamp and Maestri considered it a futile mission as Abrahamsen pressed on.

Abrahamsen’s cadence was wildly slower than his pursuers as he was finally metres from the line, with Milan edging Philipsen in the sprint and Corbin Strong (Israel–Premier Tech) surging past Girmay for third.