Our youngster finished in the top three all the races in which he took part this year.
Paul Magnier showed a remarkable consistency as he racked up his fifth top three finish since the beginning of the year by taking runner-up at the 57th edition of Le Samyn. The Frenchman, who came at the start just three days after climbing on the podium of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, rode another great race Tuesday afternoon, this time in Wallonie, where the course comprised many cobblestone sectors and rolling roads.
Soudal Quick-Step was one of the most active teams, at first controlling the gap of the original breakaway and then sending Martin Svrcek in a strong group up the road, from where the Slovakian attacked with 20 kilometers to go and managed to stay off the front until the peloton came back. More attacks came soon, the most dangerous one at five kilometers to go, and it was thanks to Gil Gelders’ excellent effort that the bunch rode as one under the flamme rouge.
Magnier was in a good position 300 meters from the line and produced another solid sprint, taking second behind Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) for our team’s 14th podium of the year, and despite having to settle for another second, the 20-year-old Frenchman was upbeat at the finish.
“I am satisfied with my result, because being second behind such a champion is no shame. He was the strongest, whereas I suffered a bit after those hard and hectic final kilometers. It was a good race from the whole squad and an important experience for myself. I want to thank the team, because it was due to their excellent work that I was positioned the entire day, both on the cobbles and in the final kilometer. Of course I would have loved to win, but it’s still a good result before my first World Tour stage race of the season, Tirreno-Adriatico”, Paul explained after the podium ceremony.
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen / Getty Images
