Paul Magnier won the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve with a perfect sprint.
Paul Magnier celebrated his 25th pro victory on the roads of Volta ao Algarve, one of the many competitions on which our team has left its mark in the past two decades. Magnier, who made his stage race debut this season in Portugal, became the first Frenchman to win a bunch sprint this century in Algarve, a feat that brought three different jerseys on his shoulders, for leading the overall, points, and youth classifications.
Soudal Quick-Step left absolutely nothing to chance Wednesday afternoon, when our team controlled the large nine-man breakaway group that formed soon after the start, making sure it would bring it back with more than 20 kilometers to go. Then, as the peloton increased the pace, the Wolfpack kept Magnier in a good position the entire time before hitting the front again just a few kilometers from home to form a redoubtable lead-out train.
Having won in Tavira several times in the past, our squad knew the finale and that helped Paul time his effort to perfection there, as the young Frenchman unleashed a formidable sprint inside 200 meters to go to capture Soudal Quick-Step’s 26th Volta ao Algarve stage victory.
I’m really happy to take my first victory of the year in just my second race.
“I had a strong team around me and they did a great job the entire day, something for which I want to thank them. I was confident today and benefitted from a great lead-out, and we can all be happy with what we achieved on this stage. The yellow jersey is a nice bonus and I’ll wear it with pride”, a delighted Paul said after the podium ceremony.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images