Magnier makes Milan-Sanremo debut after recovering from Tirreno crash

Paul Magnier will make his Milan-Sanremo debut on Saturday despite his heavy crash on the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico last weekend.

The Frenchman was a faller ahead of the bunch sprint in San Benedetto del Tronto on Sunday, though he was able to remount and complete the stage. He sustained blows to his knee and back in the crash, but he has been included in the Soudal Quick-Step squad for La Primavera.

Magnier claimed 19 wins last season, and he made a strong start to 2026 with two stage victories at the Volta ao Algarve. The 21-year-old endured an ill-starred Opening Weekend due to mechanical issues, but he is set to be a key figure in Soudal Quick-Step’s Classics squad this Spring.

Following the departure of Remco Evenepoel to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, Soudal Quick-Step prioritised rebuilding their Classics unit, and new arrival Jasper Stuyven will lead the line on Saturday alongside Magnier. 

Stuyven won Milan-Sanremo in 2021 with a smart attack at the bottom of the descent off the Poggio, though the race has changed dramatically in the years since amid Tadej Pogačar's repeated attempts to crack the code and triumph on the Via Roma.

Pogačar and defending champion Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) line up as the outstanding favourites to win this year’s Milan-Sanremo, with Filippo Ganna (Ineos), Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) and Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) in the next tier of contenders.

“It’s a race where anything can happen and so many scenarios are possible,” said Soudal Quick-Step sports director Davide Bramati. 

“The squad we are taking there is a strong one and very motivated to fight for a good result on the Via Roma. Of course, we know it’s not going to be easy – it never is in a Monument race – but we are more than ready to show the Wolfpack spirit and give our best on Saturday.”

The Soudal Quick-Step squad for Milan-Sanremo is completed by Casper Pedersen, Pepijn Reinderink, Laurenz Rex, Maximilian Schachmann and Fabio Van den Bossche.