Tour de France 2025: Jonathan Milan secures second stage win as Tadej Pogacar continues to dominate leaderboard

Sprint sensation Jonathan Milan delivered another masterclass in high-speed precision to clinch his second stage victory at the 2025 Tour de France. The Italian sprinter powered through a dramatic rain-slicked finish to win Stage 17, overcoming a crash that wiped out several of his rivals in the final kilometer.

Milan doubles down in tense sprint finale

Riding in the green jersey as the points classification leader, Milan once again showed why he's the dominant force in sprinting this season. With the peloton charging into the final stretch under treacherous conditions, the Lotto Dstny rider surged ahead, edging out Jordi Meeus, Tobias Lund Andresen, Arnaud De Lie, and Davide Ballerini at the line.

“It’s always incredible to win at the Tour,” Jonathan Milan said post-race. “You never know what can happen, especially on a day like this.”

The chaotic finish was triggered by a crash under the “flamme rouge”, the red kite marking the final kilometer. Several key sprinters, including Tim Merlier, were caught in the melee, derailing their chances of contesting the win. Merlier, who had looked promising throughout the day, admitted to a costly mistake.

“The last 25 kilometers were really, really fast,” Merlier said. “I think I did a mistake. I took one roundabout on the wrong side and I lost a lot of positions. And then I knew I needed to move up. The moment I wanted to move up, I crashed.”

Jonathan Milan’s win further cements his lead in the green jersey race, with his consistency and explosive finishes making him nearly untouchable in the points standings.

Tadej Pogacar remains firmly in control

While the stage ended in chaos for many, there was no shakeup at the top of the general classification. Tadej Pogacar, the three-time Tour de France champion, safely crossed the finish line to retain his commanding 4-minute, 15-second lead over Jonas Vingegaard.

With the final mountain stages looming, Pogacar remains in prime position to add another yellow jersey to his storied career. His calm and calculated riding through turbulent stages continues to showcase the blend of strategy and strength that defines champions.