Track World Championships, Jonathan Milan gold and world record in the pursuit
World Track Championships, Jonathan Milan gold and world record in the pursuit
Jonathan Milan è in the history of cycling. The Italian won the gold medal in the final of the individual pursuit at the Track World Championships in Ballerup, Denmark, also setting the world record in 3'59"153.
The silver è went to Britain's Josh Charlton, 21, who in turn had taken it away from Filippo Ganna in the afternoon semifinals. Milan thus won the gold and brought back to Italy the record over the 4-kilometer distance.
Earlier, the final for bronze had gone to Britain’s Daniel Bigham, who beat compatriot Charlie Tanfield. The 24-year-old from Friuli succeeds just teammate Ganna and one year later brings the tricolor back to the world roof. È the seventh Italian to win rainbow gold in the individual pursuit.
"Charlton held the record for only half a day – commented Federciclismo president Cordiano Dagnoni – We are proud to have brought him back to Italy with an extraordinary Milan, which also gave a lot of morale to the team, which has been unlucky in recent days, failing to reap the hoped-for results despite meticulous preparation. Now we hope that the wheel will turn".
Milan è started off strong right away, very strong, forcing his opponent to chase from the very beginning and then throughout the race: already after 125 meters Jonny was ahead with a lightning start and continued to increase until the three-kilometer mark. At this point he slowly gave up about half a second, but on the last lap he found the strength to restart and increase again, closing on the four kilometers at the incredible average of 60.212 kilometers per hour.
Charlton could not, however, keep up with the Blue, surrendering by just over a second. Milan thus achieved the most important individual achievement of his career, he who had already won with the quartet both the World Championships and the Olympics, finding in the pursuit the European gold twice and centering three medals, without ever climbing on the first step of the podium, at the rainbow level.
