site.btaPaul Magnier Celebrates Opening Giro Win, Sets Sights on More Victories

The winner of the first stage of the Giro d'Italia, Paul Magnier, said that he managed to keep his legs fresh for the final sprint in Burgas and that this helped him achieve his first Grand Tour victory.

The 22-year-old Magnier was the best-placed rider in the final sprint of the 147-kilometer leg from Nessebar to Burgas. He was also one of only ten cyclists not directly affected by the mass crash that occurred 700 meters before the finish on Democracy Boulevard.

At the post-stage press conference, Magnier said he relied on his teammates to keep him well positioned ahead of the final sprint. He added that he reacted quickly to Tobias Lund Andersen’s move on the right and thanked his team for shielding him in the closing kilometers.

Last season, the Frenchman recorded 19 victories and was surpassed in this indicator only by world champion Tadej Pogacar. 

Magnier said he was proud of his victories last season, but described his latest achievement as even more special. He called winning the opening stage of a Grand Tour a dream come true and said wearing the pink jersey had been an ambition of his since childhood.

He was also asked about his chances of retaining the leader's pink jersey in Saturday's second stage from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo.

Magnier said he planned to celebrate the win with his team before turning his focus to defending the pink jersey, even though he expects it to be a difficult task. He also reflected on his late start in cycling, explaining that he began as a mountain biker and initially saw himself as a climber before discovering that sprinting suited his explosive strengths better. He added that he conserved energy for the final sprint of the stage and will now need to fight for points in the intermediate sprints, with keeping the pink jersey remaining a major objective.

He also said that by the end of the Giro he will try at least once more to finish as a stage winner.