Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) has won the first stage of the 2026 Giro d’Italia, the 147 km long Nessebar-Burgas, ahead of Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) and Ethan Vernon (NSN Cycling Team).
The victory, which came on the day that marked 21 years since the Soudal Quick-Step’s maiden success at the Corsa Rosa – brought by Paolo Bettini in Tropea – was the biggest in the career of Paul, who thanks to it donned three of the competition’s four jerseys: pink, cyclamen, and white.
Soudal Quick-Step was a machine whose cogs where well-oiled Friday afternoon, from the relentless work that Ayco Bastiaens put in at the front of the peloton to bring the escapees back to the flawless lead-out provided by Jasper Stuyven and Dries Van Gestel. It was thanks to their experience and instinct that Magnier was brought near the front of the bunch with more than six kilometers to go, a decision which proved to be crucial, as Paul’s presence there helped him avoid a nasty crash that decimated the field with 600 meters to go, leaving only a dozen riders in contention.
The last part of the closing kilometer was an uphill one, so timing was everything there, and Paul launched his effort with just 175 meters to go, giving absolutely no chance to his opponents and powering to a crushing victory – Soudal Quick-Step’s 34th at the Giro d’Italia.
“I am so proud of the team and of what we achieved today! I came into this race with the ambition of taking a victory and the pink jersey, something in which I believed since my altitude training camp, and I’m delighted I could do it on the very first stage,” Magnier said after the stage. “The entire squad was formidable today! Ayco chased the breakaway, then we all hit the front in the final kilometers, and Jasper and Dries did an amazing job as we raced under the flamme rouge.”
“I have no words to tell you how happy I am that I could finish it off. There are some really big sprinters here, and to win against them is unbelievable! It’s a beautiful feeling to wear the first maglia rosa, which is such a legendary and prestigious jersey!”, an elated Paul said after the 27th pro victory of his career.
Magnier also wears the Maglia Rosa as he leads the General Classification.
Stage 1 Brief Results:
- Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) – 147 km in 3h21’08” average speed 43.851 km/h
- Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) s.t.
- Ethan Vernon (NSN Cycling Team) s.t.
General Classification After Stage 1:
- Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
- Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) at
- Manuele Tarozzi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber) at 4″
Official Jerseys:
The leader jerseys of the Giro d’Italia are designed by CASTELLI
- Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by Io Sono Friuli Venezia Giulia – Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
- Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, in cooperation with ITA – Italian Trade Agency – Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) – worn by Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM Team)
- Maglia Azzurra, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna Classification, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Diego Pablo Sevilla (Team Polti VisitMalta)
- Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider Classification, born after 1 January 2001, sponsored by Conad – Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) – worn by Antonio Morgado (UAE Team Emirates – XRG)
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