Tim Merlier flags costly mistakes in Magnier's leadout work at the Giro

Paul Magnier won two of the first three stages of the Giro d'Italia for Soudal Quick-Step earlier this month, including the opening day in Burgas and stage three in Sofia. 

Magnier led the points classification until the end of stage 14 when he was usurped by Jhonatan Narváez by a point, after the Ecuadorian's strong string of breakaways. From the outside, the young Frenchman is having a breakout Grand Tour.

In an interview with Nieuwsblad, Merlier said his trainer, Frederik Broché, saw something else in the data. He told Merlier that he was impressed by the wattages Magnier had to push in the final five kilometres of those sprint stages, just to get into position. 

Merlier read those numbers as a warning sign. "Frederik told me he is impressed by the wattages Paul Magnier has to push in the final five kilometres of the Giro, just to get to the sprint," Merlier said. 

"But Paul also makes mistakes in that lead-up that we are going to have to sit down and talk about."

He softened it straight away. "Well, mistakes is maybe a big word. He sprints very well, but in his preparation, he tries very hard to play it safe. In some races that can cost him the win."

The point lands inside a clear team picture. Soudal Quick-Step have two pure sprinters at the top level. Merlier is 33 and the team's Tour de France pick. Magnier is 21 and the team's Giro pick. They are not in competition for the same race in 2026, but they will be measured against each other.