Paul Magnier won the first stage of the Giro d’Italia. At the start of the tour in Bulgaria, the Frenchman won the sprint and won the first pink jersey. The finale was overshadowed by a mass fall on the home straight.
Tobias Lund Andresen came second, Ethan Vernon came third. Jonathan Milan, who was considered the top favorite for the first leadership jersey, had to settle for fourth place. Pascal Ackermann crossed the finish line as the best German in seventh place, Maximilian Walscheid came ninth.
A good 600 meters from the finish there was a mass fall in the front field. Because the riders were lying on the ground, almost the entire peloton had to stop. Only a small group was able to sprint for victory at the front, including Ackermann and Walscheid.
First Grand Tour victory for magicians
For Magnier from the Soudal Quick-Step team, it is the first stage victory in one of the three major tours. “I’m so proud of the team and my performance”said the 22-year-old in the winner’s interview. The sprinter said about the last few meters: “It was quite a hectic finale because it was a pretty easy day so everyone was very fresh.”
The first stage over 147 kilometers from Nessebar to Burgas was perfect for a sprint finish. There was just 500 meters of elevation gain on the flat course along the Black Sea coast.
Runaway duo with no chance
There was therefore no fight for the breakaway group. Only the Italian Manuele Tarozzi and the Spaniard Diego Pablo Sevilla pulled away immediately after the start. The two professionals from the Bardiani and Polti teams represented the colors of two smaller teams that are there with a wild card. Behind them, the sprinter teams effortlessly controlled the race and didn’t give the breakaways much more than a two-minute lead.
With 23 kilometers to go, the field formed the duo and the sprinter teams slowly got into position for the final. Because of the long, wide roads it only became hectic in the last five kilometers. Beforehand, things were unusually quiet in the field for a Grand Tour opener.
The Giro peloton on the way to Burgas
Undulating stage on Saturday
The second stage on Saturday leads over 221 km from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo. The undulating stage will demand more from the professionals than on the opening day. There are 2,600 meters of altitude to overcome on the second day in Bulgaria. Eleven kilometers before the finish there is a steep, 3.9 kilometer long climb. The home straight is also uphill.
