The 19-year-old has signed a contract until the end of 2026.
One of the most exciting prospects coming from the U23 ranks, Paul Magnier will ride for Soudal Quick-Step next season, having inked a three-year deal with the most successful team of the century.
A resident of Grenoble, the city where the first Tour de France yellow jersey was awarded in 1919, Paul became interested in the sport at the age of 13, and has since shown his credentials in both mountain bike and road cycling. Last year, as a junior, he picked up several wins, including a pair of stages at the prestigious Giro della Lunigiana, where he finished runner-up in the general classification and took home the points jersey.
In 2023, while riding at Continental level for Trinity Racing – where he was a teammate of Luke Lamperti, another young and promising rider who will sport the Soudal Quick-Step jersey next year – the Frenchman impressed at the Tour of Britain against World Tour riders, before powering to a solid third in the U23 race at the European Championships, which he added to another impressive bronze medal, won in 2022 at the Junior Mountain Bike Worlds held in Les Gets. Considering everything, it didn’t come as a surprise that our squad decided he has what it takes to make the step to the World Tour in 2024.
“I feel very excited and proud to be part of this fantastic team and I can’t wait to join Soudal Quick-Step for the first training camp in Calpe. This is a squad with an immense tradition when it comes to developing young riders, and as I love the Classics, I know I am in the right place. It’s incredible to be on the same team as Julian Alaphilippe, a two-time World Champion, who told me great things about the Wolfpack. I already got a warm welcome here and I love it. It’s also important for me that I will continue to ride the Specialized bikes, which I love, and I want to thank everyone for this fantastic opportunity”, said the 19-year-old.
Soudal Quick-Step CEO Patrick Lefevere added: “We’ve been following Paul for quite some time now and he had a very impressive run in the junior and U23 ranks. He is very versatile and talented – as shown by his remarkable results across several disciplines – has a lot of potential, and at the same time, he is eager to learn and gain experience. These things make us excited and confident for the upcoming season.”
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