Jonathan Milano leads the Italian team in Sunday's European Championship men's road race, with the Azzurri controlling the attack of Mathieu van der Pol and Mads Pedersen and confident of a fast power sprint finish.

The 23-year-old Italian is in great form, having won 11 races this season, three stages in the Deutschlandtour and two in the Rennières Tour. He also won three stages at the Giro d'Italia and anchored the Italian Team Pursuit four at the Paris Olympics.

Milano finished second to Olaf Kooij at last weekend's BEMER Cyclassics, but is hungry to win the white and blue European champion jersey.

The 220-km elite men's race in East Flanders promises to be a spring classic, with cobblestones, narrow roads, and light crosswinds. However, the race is expected to be controlled by countries with fast riders.

2023 European champion Christophe Laporte will lead the French team, while his Lidl-Trek teammate Mads Pedersen of Milan will lead the Danish lineup. Belgium will share the leadership with Jasper Philipsen and Tim Mellier, who will compete with each other in the event of a group sprint finish.

Van der Pol will lead the Netherlands and is expected to go on the attack, but Kooij is also among the eight riders. Also included are outsiders such as Kasper Asgreen (Denmark), Alexander Kristof (Norway), and Stefan Kühn (Switzerland).

Milano is the road captain Matteo Trentin, new European time trial champion Eduardo Affini, Mattia Cattaneo, Davide Ballerini, Mirko Maestri, Jacopo Mosca, and reliable lead-out man and the same team's Pursuiters, Simone Consonni, and other strong and experienced Italian athletes will support the team.

“Jonathan doesn't have to worry about anything, he just thinks about finishing,” Italian national coach Daniele Bennati said recently.

“He may not be able to handle van der Pol's powerful attack, but on paper we have a player who can chase the attack.

“We will decide on the final tactics just before the race and leave the lead-out and management of the sprint to Conssoni. Mosca will concentrate on controlling the early stages of the race, while the others will contribute to Milan in the sprint.