Paul Magnier

Paul Magnier is a French sprinter who rides for Soudal Quick-Step. His team profile gives his birth date as 14 April 2004 and his birthplace as Laredo, USA [2]. In 2026 he won two stages of the Giro d'Italia, a race in Belgium known as the Mur de Grammont, and the ADAC Cyclassics in Hamburg [3] [10] [4].

Early wins as a teenager

According to Orange Sport, Magnier's first professional win came at the Trophée des Salines in Majorca, and his second came in February 2024 on the third stage of the Tour of Oman, which was shortened because of weather [12]. The report calls him a 19-year-old who had ridden seven races as a professional at that point [12].

A contract to 2029

In January 2026 Soudal Quick-Step announced that Magnier had extended his contract until the end of 2029 [1] [5]. In August 2026 Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe reportedly explored the possibility of signing him, and he said he saw his future at Soudal Quick-Step [13]. His words were: "Red Bull are building a big team but I trust Quick-Step 100%" [13].

Two stages at the 2026 Giro

The first came on 8 May 2026, on stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia from Nessebar to Burgas, a 147 km route [7] [8]. Magnier won it for Soudal Quick-Step and took the pink jersey, becoming the first Frenchman to wear the pink jersey for the overall lead since Bruno Armirail [7].

Two days later he won stage 3 from Plovdiv to Sofia, 175 km in 4 hours 9 minutes 42 seconds [3]. Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek and Dylan Groenewegen of Unibet Rose Rockets were given the same time [3]. The race's official site says he was the first French rider to win two stages in the opening three days of the Giro, and the youngest rider in history to claim two stage wins so early in the race [3].

At the same Giro, his teammate Tim Merlier said in an interview with Nieuwsblad that Magnier also made mistakes in the lead-up to the sprints, and that the team would need to talk about them [15].

Mur de Grammont in June

On 14 June 2026 Magnier won the fourth edition of the Muur Classic, known in French as the Mur de Grammont, over 179 km around Grammont [10]. He beat Floris Van Tricht and Jenno Berckmoes in the sprint [10]. Orange Sport called it his sixth win of the season and his 30th career win [11].

On 12 June the team had not yet chosen between Magnier and Tim Merlier for the Tour de France sprints [16]. Later reports say he skipped the Tour and took a break from racing [9].

Hamburg and a revenge win

On 16 August 2026 Magnier won the ADAC Cyclassics in Hamburg in a bunch sprint on the Mönckebergstraße [4]. Mike Teunissen of XDS Astana took second and Laurence Pithie of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe took third [4]. He was the first French winner of the race since Arnaud Démare in 2012, and the win came one year after he had finished third there [4]. Jasper Stuyven led the front group into the final kilometre with Magnier on his wheel [14]. The win was his seventh of the 2026 season [9].

Where the 2026 results leave him

The 2026 results cover three kinds of finish. At the Giro he won two stages in three days. In June he won a sprint finish in Belgium, and in August he won a bunch sprint in Hamburg after the field had been through five ascents of the Waseberg [3] [10] [4] [14]. His contract with Soudal Quick-Step runs until the end of 2029 [1].