The Frenchman leads the points classification with two stages to go.
Paul Magnier took a spectacular win on the second stage of the Course de la Paix, which travelled from Unicov to Rymarov, over 117.6 kilometers. The hilly route contained four climbs, two of which – Tvrdkov (6.2km, 4.6%) and Horni Mesto (1.6km, 5.3%) – came in the last 20 kilometers.
Victorious in Trofeo Ses Salines-Felanitx and a Tour of Oman stage so far in his maiden pro season in the colors of Soudal Quick-Step, Paul rode here together with the French National Team, who made sure of protecting him the entire stage before launching him to a crushing solo win. Magnier surprised everyone by accelerating inside the final 500 meters of Friday’s stage, his incredible burst of speed leaving all the other riders trailing and propelling the 20-year-old to a success that came with the green jersey as bonus.
“Our plan today was to make the race really hard, so that the sprinters wouldn’t find it easy in the finale. We rode hard from the beginning, then sent a rider in the breakaway, so we didn’t have to control. With 400 meters to go, I opened my sprint from second wheel on a left-hand corner, and could carry that speed all the way to the line. I’m very happy with this win and with the confidence it brings, especially as the Course de la Paix is my first race in four weeks”, Paul said after his third success of the year.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
