Small changes in the general classification after a day for the sprinters.
Paul Magnier came close to scoring his first podium in Tirreno-Adriatico, a race which he is doing for the second season in a row, at the end of this edition’s longest stage, which concluded in Magliano de’ Marsi, after 221 kilometers.
The riders began the day in Cortona, but instead of riding under the Tuscan sun, they had to face rain and cold as they travelled to the small town located in the beautiful Abruzzo region. Soudal Quick-Step did an excellent job the entire day, setting a steady tempo at the front of the peloton with Ayco Bastiaens, shutting down a dangerous late move after a big effort of Ethan Hayter, and making sure its sprinter remained well-positioned and out of the wind in the crucial final kilometers.
Unfortunately for Paul, he got boxed in inside 500 meters to go and had to break twice, and for that reason, he couldn’t properly contest the sprint. Even in these conditions, the 21-year-old generated an impressive speed, coming on the outside and finishing fourth on this stage won by Tobias Lund (Decathlon CGA CGM). In the general classification, Ilan Van Wilder managed to gain a position as he continues to be Soudal Quick-Step’s highest-ranked rider.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
