00:00It was horrible, horrible, horrible.
00:05When the body feels like it wants to give up, it's amazing what the mind can do.
00:10Wengergaard starts the assault. Look at the face of Pogaccia.
00:15You were at the limit.
00:18Some points.
00:20There's a little bit of hurt for the first time on the yellow jersey's face.
00:24It was hard, very hard. I've never done a long jump. I've never done a long jump and it's bad.
00:31Cachinard, what a day. He made it to the finish line.
00:36But these riders refuse to give in. That's what the Tour de France is all about.
00:41I enjoy really a lot this time, I have to say.
00:44So many supporters are really, really beautiful day, I have to say.
00:54It's not a usual sprint stage.
00:58A sprint in the last week of the Tour, it's very difficult.
01:02Today, at least, if we have four or five teams to control, I think it's going to be easy.
01:08We are now normally at sprint stage, but you never know where the Peloton is.
01:13The last straight straight to 600m will be very effective for a good result today.
01:17It can be rainy in the final, so it will be good to be at the front.
01:21Milan is the strongest, he's like Keita was, just super strong.
01:26Malia is a real thinker, he's really smart.
01:29It looks like maybe the last opportunity.
01:32I hope to be well in the last days, and I hope to be able to dance in my way.
01:38Likely the last chance for sprinters giving changes to the final stage in Paris.
01:49The finish in Valence has previously crowned Greipel, Saigon and also Cavendish in 2021.
01:55Without major challenges, the team's aiming to deliver a bunch sprint.
01:59Your four riders were of a mind to test the Peloton's control.
02:04Groupama's Canton Pache, Mathieu Bergadeau of Total Energy, Stage 11 winner Jonas Abramson,
02:10as well as EF Education's Vincenzo Albanese.
02:13Ineos' Axel Laurensk elected to give a solo chase.
02:17Instead, the Frenchman was caught in no man's land.
02:20Alright Axel, for me, they don't let up the gas, so you can wait.
02:25Wait for the bunch.
02:27And then we go with the plan after the sprint and into this climb to try and fuck the sprinters' teams, okay?
02:32So Axel, I repeat, better you wait now, and say nothing for after.
02:36The car is changed, 2.20 seconds, 20 seconds, 20 seconds.
02:42Gmai moves to the right-hand side, Turchese, Merlier, Phil Bauhaus.
02:47Those are the sprinters who look like they're going to go for this.
02:51They're leaving it really late today, 200 meters to go.
02:55Tom Scoyne's on the front, and here goes the lead-out train with Simone Consoni.
03:01Milan now kicks in the middle.
03:04Biniam Gmai in the wheel.
03:06Milan looks around.
03:08So Milan takes it from Gmai.
03:12We think that it can still happen.
03:15It can still happen in this chain.
03:18We're not at the end of it.
03:21At a moment, if he doesn't leave a lot of corners, there's 1.45.
03:25By the foot of the first climb, the gap was falling further.
03:28In large part thanks to Ineos setting a high tempo up the Côte de Pertuis.
03:32The pace was proving too much for some.
03:34A bit of panic setting in for teams hoping for a sprint.
03:37The green jersey among those being left behind.
03:40One long line now as the riders make their way over the first climb of the day.
03:51The Côte de Pertuis.
03:52There's a big gap there.
03:53There's no, that's not the green jersey group.
03:57There's a green jersey group.
03:59There's some Merlier's here, I can see him there and there's a white kit.
04:05So all the sprinters are in the back.
04:11Inside the final 80km and the sprinters had worked their way back into the peloton.
04:16The leading group with around a minute on them ahead of the final climb of the day.
04:20It's sure they're going to try to be controlled, but they're going to do some work today.
04:25Come on guys, let's continue.
04:33Come on guys, we're going to Visma and Van Aert.
04:35I think they're only going to put them in the back.
04:39A good bit, there's a...
04:41There we go.
04:42There we go.
04:43Well he's not interested in this being a bunch sprint.
04:45Wow, Van Aert goes on the attack.
04:51Now start raining at 10km to go, 10km to go, start raining now.
04:57At 10km to go.
05:00Van Aert caught with 34km left, the peloton upping the ante in pursuit.
05:05Rainfall certainly added further uncertainty to proceedings.
05:09All set up now for a final splash, and Abramson wasn't about to hang around.
05:28So in 500m they will go left left, and it gets a lot narrower.
05:31We go from two lanes into one, and the corner is in...
05:34Oh, massive crash!
05:35Oh, crash!
05:36And a load of riders hit the deck, including Binyam Gamay, including the Israel riders.
05:43One rider from Picnic, and Caden Groves is held up as well.
05:48And here's the left corner.
05:50Left-hand turn.
05:52A crash-marred finish to today's stage as we get ready.
05:56Ballerini's in position.
05:59Lotto start to lead out.
06:01Ballerini looking for this victory.
06:03Jordi Murs is also there.
06:05So is Arnold Delis.
06:07And now Lotto start the sprint.
06:09Big acceleration from Fedorov as he brings Ballerini to the front.
06:13Arnold Delis goes on the left-hand side.
06:15Paul Penowat is also there.
06:17Getting set is the rider from the Picnic post at L Team 2.
06:22He starts to sprint.
06:23Jonathan Milan gets ready.
06:25Milan starts to kick.
06:26Arnold Delis hits his wheel.
06:28And they go.
06:29Milan is going straight for the line to be challenged by Jordi Murs.
06:33But it's Jonathan Milan who wins the stage.
06:36I'm really happy and without words I have to say.
06:56I actually didn't know that there was a crash.
07:01I didn't survive alone.
07:02I survived always with the help of my teammates.
07:05Without all this I would not be here.
07:07Maybe I would be already dropped in one of the climbs.
07:10I really have to thank them with the bottom of my heart.
07:14Super, super happy for all of us.
07:28Milan with another powerful finish to victory.
07:31No rematch with Tim Melier.
07:33Both now with two wins each this tour.
07:35Jordi Murs and Tobias Andresen on the podium.
07:42A 50th yellow jersey on the tour.
07:44Earned by Tadi Pogacar.
07:46The world champion said he knows he'll have a big defence to come tomorrow.
07:50Well a defining day in the points classification.
07:53Milan taking a big stride by opening a 72 point gap over Pogacar.
07:59And with no points up for grabs.
08:01The Slovenian is still with the polka dots.
08:04The king of the mountains fight resuming on stage 18.
08:07And Leibowitz still in possession of the white jersey.
08:10But how will things shake up after the queen stage tomorrow?
08:12Or the queen stage tomorrow.
