Paul Magnier stormed to victory on stage one of the Giro d’Italia in Nessebar, Bulgaria, on Friday, winning from a reduced group after a mass crash in the final kilometre. As a result, the Frenchman will take the first pink jersey.
The Soudal Quick-Step rider timed his sprint perfectly to round Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM) in the closing metres. Ethan Vernon (NSN Cycling) finished third in a small group of around just 10 riders. It is Magnier’s first Grand Tour stage win, and first WorldTour victory of the year. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), the sprint favourite, finished fourth.
“Honestly, if it had been anyone other than Paul Magnier in my wheel, I think I would have won,” Lund Andresen, who finished second, said. “That’s why I’m both proud and disappointed at the same time. Today was a huge opportunity to make history and wear the pink jersey, so finishing second hurts a little more. There will be other opportunities, we will try everything to go for a win.”
Results
Giro d’Italia 2026, stage one: Nessebar > Burgas (147km)
1. Paul Magnier (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step, in 3:21:08
2. Tobias Lund Andresen (Den) Decathlon CMA CGM
3. Ethan Vernon (GBr) NSN Cycling
4. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek
5. Madis Mikhels (Est) EF Education-EasyPost
6. Giovanni Lonardi (Ita) Polti VisitMalta
7. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Jayco AlUla
8. Tord Gudmestad (Nor) Decathlon CMA CGM
9. Max Walscheid (Ger) Lidl-Trek
10. Dries Van Gestel (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step, all at same time
General classification after stage one
1. Paul Magnier (Fra) Soudal Quick-Step, in 3:20:58
2. Tobias Lund Andresen (Den) Decathlon CMA CGM, +4s
3. Manuel Tarozzi (Ita) Polti VisitMalta, at same time
4. Ethan Vernon (GBr) NSN Cycling, +6s
5. Diego Pablo Sevilla (Esp) Polti VisitMalta, at same time
6. António Morgado (Por) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +8s
7. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek, +10s
8. Madis Mikhels (Est) EF Education-EasyPost
9. Giovanni Lonardi (Ita) Polti VisitMalta
10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Jayco AlUla, all at same time
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