Magnier, Born to Win

Paul Magnier is one of those riders who seems to have only one thing on his mind: winning. A year ago, he left his first Giro d’Italia empty-handed, with third place in Naples his best result. Twelve months later, he stands atop the podium in Burgas, ready to pull on the first Maglia Rosa awarded during the historic Bulgarian Grande Partenza.

«I’m incredibly emotional and proud», said the Soudal Quick-Step sprinter, flashing the wide smile of someone who appears to live — and race — at full gas at all times.

After all, Magnier has never hidden his obsession with victory. “Winning is the engine of motivation,” he said in the early days of his professional career, which began in spectacular fashion with victory at the Trofeo Ses Salines–Felanitx in January 2024 – his very first race at elite level. «All champions say the same thing: what they truly love is winning».

From Giro Next Gen to Maglia Rosa

Born on 14 April 2004, Magnier had only just turned 20 when he began balancing professional racing — collecting stage wins at the Tour of Oman and the Tour of Britain, alongside a runner-up finish at the Bretagne Classic — with Under-23 competition, where he had already made his mark at the Giro Next Gen by winning stages in Saint-Vincent and Borgomanero.

«I had already worn the Maglia Rosa at the Giro Next Gen… but this is the Rosa of the big leagues», he says today with excitement. «Tomorrow will be something special».

And special it certainly will be. On the road to Veliko Tarnovo, all eyes will be on him. Cycling’s keenest observers had already begun to recognise his talent and fearless racing style – now, the wider public is discovering him too.

Paul Magnier, from mountain bike prodigy to comeback story

Born in Texas, where his parents worked until he was four years old, Magnier has always been full of energy. He tried several sports before fully committing to cycling, initially through mountain biking, a discipline that led him to the Trinity development team.

In 2023, however, his rise was abruptly interrupted by mononucleosis, forcing him off the bike for several months. It took something serious to slow him down — but not enough to stop him. “A lot of contact with teams had cooled off,” he admits today. Yet one squad never stopped believing in him: Soudal Quick-Step, then still home to Julian Alaphilippe. “Julian kept sending me messages to support me,” Magnier recalls. “He gave me huge motivation when I got back on the bike after the illness.”

The Duel with Milan and the Rainbow Dream

After joining the Wolfpack in 2024, the Frenchman impressed from his very first training camp, even managing to outperform a rider of Tim Merlier’s calibre in training efforts. Since then, he has built up victories with striking consistency – already 27 as a professional – culminating in his masterpiece in Burgas.

«It’s the first time I’ve managed to beat a champion like Jonathan Milan», he says with clarity. «I feel like I’ve taken an important step in my career». Like Alaphilippe, Magnier dreams of one day wearing the rainbow jersey, and his skillset – far broader than that of a pure sprinter – seems to back up those ambitions.

For now, though, he is savouring the moment: Maglia Rosa, Maglia Bianca and, above all, the Maglia Ciclamino, which looks set to become the focus of a fascinating battle with Jonathan Milan, but also with Tobias Lund Andresen, runner-up on the opening stage. And the feeling is that, on the roads of the 2026 Giro, the fireworks have only just begun.