Our rider became the first Frenchman to pick up two stage victories at a single edition of the race.
Paul Magnier earned Soudal Quick-Step’s second victory of the season in Lagos, where the penultimate stage of the race concluded, with another great sprint that put him again in the points jersey. The 21-year-old made it a perfect week for him and the Wolfpack in Portugal – a race where the team has enjoyed more than 30 victories since 2007 – and confirmed he is in good shape ahead of the Opening Weekend.
Despite the roads between Albufeira and Lagos containing a few hills and a strong breakaway going in the beginning, it was always going to be a day for the sprinters, and our squad did a tremendous job when it came to overhauling the attackers and keeping things together in the hectic closing kilometers.
Going under the flamme rouge, Magnier had two teammates with him, and he patiently waited for the last 150 meters to open his sprint, knowing timing would be key due to the strong headwind. As soon as he launched his effort, Paul put more than a bike length into his opponents and took a comfortable victory, our fifth in Lagos.
“I had again a very strong team and they did a great job, controlling the breakaway. It wasn’t easy on the finishing stretch, as everybody was still fresh at the end of this stage and things quickly became hectic, but the guys brought me in a good position and I could launch my sprint at the right moment. I’m happy with these two stage victories, it’s been a great race for us and a major confidence-boost ahead of the Classics”, said Paul, who in Algarve won multiple stages in a race for the fifth time since turning pro.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
