Tour de France - Milan wins sprint finish to strengthen grip on green jersey
Date: 17:27 BST 23 July
Title: Au revoir
Content: That's all from a wet finish to stage 17 of the Tour de France as Jonathan Milan wins a sprint finish for his second stage victory of his debut Tour.
That also means the Italian rider strengthens his grip on the green jersey after stretching his points lead over Tadej Pogacar from 11 to 72.
Overall race leader Pogacar conserved his energy before two tough days in the Alps, and we'll bring you live updates on the first of those stages tomorrow from about 12:00 BST. Do join us then.
Update:
Date: 17:13 BST 23 July
Title: Route map of the 2025 Tour de France
Content: No change in general classification then, but expect that to change over the next two days with two gruelling mountain stages in the Alps.
Update:
Date: 17:05 BST 23 July
Title: General classification after stage 17
Content:
Update:
Date: 17:02 BST 23 July
Title: Points classification after stage 17
Content:
Update:
Date: 16:59 BST 23 July
Title: Milan 'more relaxed' about green jersey after fine day
Content: Stage winner Jonathan Milan added: "Today was a tough stage. We controlled it from the beginning, with the help of some other teams. They helped me after the first climb when I was dropped, and then in the second with good pace.
"It was a difficult final also, because of the weather. We got to the roundabouts in the first positions and it made it a bit of a scare, but my team helped me, they supported me. This is a really fantastic team victory and I have to thank them from the bottom of my heart.
"They delivered me in the best position [for the finish], I was really focused for it, and it's a big achievement for all of us."
On the green jersey: "It's still not ended. We still have some tough days that await us, the climbs. But at the moment, we've had a lot of fun, and I'm really happy with how it's going.
"We'll keep fighting for the intermediate [sprints] and on the last day for the stage, but we'll see how it goes. We have a bit more distance with the points and I'm a bit more relaxed, but I will keep fighting."
Update:
Date: 16:49 BST 23 July
Title: General classification after stage 17
Content: Tadej Peloton crossed safely in the peloton so there was no change in the top 10 of the general classification, with the reigning champion still four minutes 15 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard.
Update:
Date: 16:46 BST 23 July
Title: 'Without my team-mates, I would've been dropped on a climb'
Content: Stage winner Jonathan Milan: "I'm really happy, I'm without words. After surviving [a split in the peloton] with the help of my team-mates, I have to prioritise this. Without this, I would not be here. I would already be dropped in one of the climbs.
"With the help of my team-mates, every single day, we achieved this result."
Milan added that he wasn't aware that other riders had been caught up in the crash just inside the final kilometre.
Update:
Date: 16:24 BST 23 July
Title: Stage 17 results
Content:
Update:
Date: 16:21 BST 23 July
Title: Milan strengthens grip on green jersey
Content: What a day for Jonathan Milan. The points leader strengthens his grip on the green jersey by getting ahead of his rivals in the intermediate sprint before claiming his second stage win of his debut Tour at the finish.
Update:
Date: 16:17 BST 23 July
Title: Milan wins stage 17
Content: It's a reduced bunch for the sprint and Jonathan Milan proves too strong for Jordi Meeus.
Update:
Date: 1km to go
Title: Ouch! - Crash in the final kilometre
Content: Tim Merlier is down, and Biniam Girmay is involved as well.
Update:
Date: 4km to go
Title: Post
Content: Jonas Abrahamsen is caught before the sprint teams battle for position.
Update:
Date: 5km to go
Title: Post
Content: The riders are into the sprint zone.
If there's a crash now, each and every rider in the bunch will get the same time.
Update:
Date: 7km to go
Title: Post
Content: Quentin Pacher and Mathieu Burgaudeau are caught by the bunch, which now trails leader Jonas Abrahamsen by 15 seconds.
Update:
Date: 10km to go
Title: Abrahamsen attacks
Content: Stage 11 winner Jonas Abrahamsen attacks with 12km to go, with Vincenzo Albanese managing to stay within five seconds as the other two breakaway riders fall away.
Update:
Date: 15km to go
Title: Post
Content: The rain's still pouring as we move into the final 15km, with the lead quartet maintaining a 30-second advantage.
Update:
Date: 16:06 BST 23 July
Title: Who should be the main contenders for sprint win?
Content: As we mentioned earlier, Jonathan Milan, Tim Merlier, Biniam Girmay, Arnaud de Lie and Kaden Groves will all hope to be in contention during a bunch sprint to the finish.
But besides those, Dylan
Groenewegen is a multiple stage winner who has barely been in contention so far this year.
Jordi Meeus claimed a prestigious win on Champs-Elysees in 2023 while Paul Penhoet, Alberto Dainese, Phil Bauahas, Pascal Ackerman and British rider Jake Stewart are among the other top sprinters.
Update:
Date: 20km to go
Title: Post
Content: The peloton is closing in. The gap to the leaders is now down 30 seconds.
Update:
Date: 15:58 BST 23 July
Title: Which teams need a win most?
Content: Jonas Vingegaard may be second in general classification but his Visma-Lease a Bike are yet to claim a stage win this year.
A stage win would help Arkea-B&B
Hotels secure a main sponsor for next year with both current sponsors set to end their partnership at the end of this year.
Fellow French teams Cofidis, Decathlon-AG2R
La Mondiale, Groupama-FDJ, Intermarche-Wanty and TotalEnergies will hope to make their mark in their homeland.
Jayco-AlUla, XDS Astana, Israel-Premier Tech and Lotto have also had little to show for their efforts so far.
Update:
Date: 30km to go
Title: Post
Content: Here's some hope for the peloton... it's windy as well as wet on this part of the route, and with it being just a four-man breakaway, the leaders are exposed.
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