The 21-year-old is the first general classification leader of the race.
Paul Magnier kept the ball rolling and racked up another success, just three days after coming out on top at the Grand Prix de Fourmies. One of the most successful young riders in the World Tour, Soudal Quick-Step’s Frenchman showed again his incredible sprint on the uphill drag to Bardejov, where the opening stage of Okolo Slovenska came to a conclusion.
Animated by a four-man breakaway, the 141.2km course contained three small classified climbs, but that didn’t stop the sprinters from featuring in the finale, after the lead group was caught. Soudal Quick-Step played again an important role in the stage coming down to a mass gallop, as our team chased from the beginning and helped bring the attackers back with 15 kilometers to go, as well as keeping things together when others tried to get away after the original breakaway was reeled in.
The finale was a technical one, featuring two corners and cobblestones, but nothing could stop Magnier, who shot from the pack with 150 meters to go after an excellent lead-out of Dries Van Gestel. The Frenchman sprinted past the other riders who couldn’t match his acceleration and picked up his seventh win of the season and our team’s 21st at the Okolo Slovenska. Wednesday’s victory brought multiple visits to the podium for Paul, who now has in possession three jerseys: overall, points and best young rider in the race.
“It’s a nice feeling to take the spoils on the very first stage of the week. The team did an amazing job, controlling the breakaway and the many attacks. I was in a perfect position in the last corner thanks to my teammates’ work and I’m happy to make it seven wins this year, especially as it happened in the country of our sponsor, Janom. It’s been a solid season for me so far and I hope to add some more good results to my palmares”, said a happy Paul in Bardejov after netting Soudal Quick-Step’s 37th victory of the year.
