Race news
Paul Magnier wipes Volta Comunitat Valenciana from programme
Soudal-QuickStep have confirmed a change to Paul Magnier's racing schedule, with the Frenchman sitting out this week's Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana in favour of a block of training.
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Cor Vos
Paul Magnier will miss the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, with his Soudal-QuickStep team telling Het Laatste Nieuws that he will take on a block of training instead of the five-day stage race.
The Frenchman began his season last week at the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana, where he placed second in a bunch sprint behind Dylan Groenewegen. Magnier had been due to ride the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, which gets under way on Wednesday, but he was not included in the Soudal-QuickStep selection.
The team confirmed to Het Laatste Nieuws that Magnier will line up as planned at the Volta ao Algarve, which takes place from February 18-22.
Magnier, who won 19 races last season, will use the Portuguese race to build towards Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The 21-year-old is set to be a key figure in the revamped Soudal-QuickStep’s Classics challenge this Spring.
In Magnier’s absence, Dries Van Gestel will carry Soudal-QuickStep’s hopes in the sprint finishes in Valencia this week, while new signing Steff Cras will make his debut for the team. Veteran Yves Lampaert also features, alongside Ayco Bastiaens, neo-professional Jonathan Vervenne, and development team riders Jasper Schoofs and Viktor Soenens.
“Valenciana is a nice and demanding race, which this year comes with an individual time trial, a stage with more than 3000 vertical meters on Saturday, and lots of up-and-down roads,” directeur sportif Tom Steels said in a statement released by the team.
“We can go in the breakaways, but we will also try to get involved in the bunch sprints with Dries. For Steff, who starts the season, the penultimate stage can be a good test, while Jonathan – the reigning U23 European champion – will see what he can do in Wednesday’s ITT. We know it’s not going to be easy, but as always, we are prepared to give our best there.”
Remco Evenepoel, who left Soudal-QuickStep for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe this winter, will line up as the favourite for overall victory at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.
