by InTrieste
Jonathan Milan, a rising star in the world of cycling, has secured his place in the sport’s history books. The 24-year-old Italian cyclist clinched the gold medal in the individual pursuit final at the Track Cycling World Championships in Ballerup, Denmark, with a world-record-breaking time of 3 minutes, 59.153 seconds. His victory also returned the 4-kilometer distance title to Italy, a significant achievement for the nation’s cycling legacy.
Milan’s win came at the expense of Britain’s Josh Charlton, a 21-year-old rising talent who had briefly claimed the world record earlier in the day, dethroning Milan’s teammate and reigning champion, Filippo Ganna. Charlton, who was seen as Milan’s fiercest competitor in the final, couldn’t keep up with the Italian’s blistering pace, falling short by just over a second.
Milan’s triumph is particularly poignant for the Italian team, which has faced a series of setbacks at the Championships despite extensive preparations. Cordiano Dagnoni, president of the Italian Cycling Federation, hailed Milan’s performance, stating, “Charlton held the record for only half a day. We’re proud to have brought it back to Italy with an extraordinary Milan, who also lifted the team’s spirits.”
The young Italian’s strategy was to attack from the outset, and it paid off. Milan launched into a powerful start, gaining a lead after just 125 meters, forcing Charlton to chase for the entire race. By the 3-kilometer mark, Milan had built a significant lead, averaging an astonishing 60.212 kilometers per hour. Although he momentarily slowed, losing about half a second, Milan found an extra burst of energy in the final lap, solidifying his victory.
This win marks a career-defining moment for Milan, who, until now, had enjoyed success primarily as part of Italy’s powerhouse pursuit team, which claimed Olympic and World Championship titles. Individually, Milan had twice earned European gold in the pursuit but had yet to climb to the top of the podium at the World Championships. Now, as the seventh Italian to secure the coveted title in the individual pursuit, Milan’s victory signals a new era for Italian cycling.
Daniel Bigham of Great Britain won the bronze medal, defeating compatriot Charlie Tanfield in a tightly contested race. However, it was Milan’s extraordinary performance that defined the event, reminding the world of Italy’s enduring prowess in track cycling.
“Now we hope fortunes will turn in our favor,” Dagnoni added, expressing optimism that Milan’s victory will be the start of a new chapter for the Italian team, which has battled both bad luck and fierce competition at this year’s championships.
Milan’s victory, his first individual world title, could well be a launching pad for even greater accomplishments, both for himself and for the next generation of Italian cyclists.
