"I trust Quick-Step 100%" - Paul Magnier refuses offer to join Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe
CyclingMonday, 31 August 2026 at 01:00
Paul Magnier is undeniably one of the most exciting young riders in the peloton right now. The 22-year-old Frenchman entered professional ranks like a tornado, sweeping up no less than 32 victories across the three seasons with Soudal - Quick-Step. Of course, his performances attracted other teams too, but Magnier confirms his commitment to the Belgian lineup in face of a lucrative offer from Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe.
Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe have become a key player on a transfer market ever since the Austrian beverage giant's arrival ahead of the 2024 season. The team of Ralph Denk lived through "a bit of a strange period" following the departure of Peter Sagan who's been their face since 2017, but found a purpose as new Grand Tour player.
In the season that came afterwards, the German team built a respectable mountain team centered around Remco Evenepoel, featuring five-time Grand Tour champion Primož Roglič, 2022 Giro winner Jai Hindley, Florian Lipowitz, Giulio Pellizzari, and Daniel Felipe Martínez.
On that part, not many improvements can be made beside signing Tadej Pogacar. Especially with the young wonderkid, winner of both Giro Next Gen and Tour de l'Avenir, Lorenzo Finn making the step up to WorldTour next season too.
Superteam on all fronts
Of course, a certain weakness can be felt in the Classics department, but the team's young core with Laurence Pithie and Van Dijke twins has the potential to fulfill that void in next season. That only leaves Red Bull with only one apparent "hole" in their armor - bunch sprints.
This part is currently covered by Jordi Meeus, but the Belgian who triumphed on Champs-Élysées in 2023 is not quite the pure speedster who can be counted on to produce victories regularly. And Meeus is on his way to Lidl-Trek in 2027 anyways.
Yield immediate results
Of course, Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe have already prepared a replacement for the 28-year-old. Coming from their own development structure are two talented Italian sprinters Davide Donati (21) and Alessio Magagnotti (19) - who recently beat Magnier in a Deutschland Tour sprint. Still, those riders might require a bit of polishing. And Red Bull asks immediate results; that's why Paul Magnier's agent was contacted.
But, contracted through 2029 at the Belgian formation, Magnier indicated that he has no intention of leaving the team where he has a fully dedicated sprint train and good chances of leadership at Tour de France in near future - something the GC-oriented Red Bull cannot promise.
"I feel very good at Soudal Quick-Step, I have a very good lead-out and I always have someone to control the race," Magnier told L'Équipe. "Red Bull are building a big team but I trust Quick-Step 100%. They trust me. With Jürgen Foré, we are trying to build a team around me for the Classics and the sprints."
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Magnier therefore remains one of Quick-Step's two sprint stars alongside Tim Merlier, whereas Red Bull will have to temporarily place their bid on the newcomers - who are definitely have great potential of their own - at least unless they find a rider of Magnier's caliber elsewhere...
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- I was poking Mou(se)! If you can't see the sarcasm then that's on you ! There was no ill will pointed at Tadeg and his crash. Next time try reading the content instead of overreacting!frieders331-08-2026
- He's still crying in his spilled milk over Pogi not being able to win!frieders331-08-2026
- "... and with a seventh pending next month..." Unfortunate timing of this post during yesterday's stage.typurc31-08-2026
- So Pidcock wins the race and the story is about VDP the loser in 32nd place . Not really bias journalism .Come on at least give Tom the creditpaultryan200231-08-2026
- A lot of people claim to be experts but are nothing much (e.g Thijs Zonneveld). But this chap really is an expert.
Rafionain-Glas30-08-2026 - For the past 2 years, all I read from cycling "experts" is "pogi shouldn't do this", "pogi shouldn't do that", "it's too dangerous, he shouldn't do that ride", "it's too soon, he shouldn't go there", "he shouldn't try both races in the same year", etc etc etc. how about a bit of silence from the experts?! it's funny, the only guy that somehow supported him was armstrong: "he'll be back. he knows the record."guster30-08-2026
- I suspect he was chatting with his AI about how, in hindsight, with Pogačar's crash, had Seixas come to the Vuelta he could have won. He then asked it to write the article and it hallucinated over the hypothetical he provided earlier in the chatRafionain-Glas30-08-2026
- Very good points and concerns you mention, it is well taken.. Since I have no acces to the CT images already available I describe likely scenarios. To secure that the non-dislocated C7 fracturure heals unproblematic serial CT images will be performed frequently A theoretic but statistically unlikely problem, could be if the fracture involved the canal where the C7 nerve root departs, and more repair bone is generated that compress the nerve. That is very unlikely and can be easily solved by surgery. Tadej is so beloved, not only because he is the undisputed best rider, but also because he is humid, generous and humuoristic and boyish positive and competitive. guy My guess he will be back as strong as ever in the 2027 season. His worst enemy could be himself if he does not take the needed time to recover, but hopefully he will listen to independant sane medical advisors.Jakob30-08-2026
- A profoundly touching moment from a true champion. Pure heart and absolute class, Pidders.anonymouscyclist30-08-2026
- I think the only way for van der Poel to win it is to skip the Tour and race lots of MTB, splitting his season into classics, MTB and CX. That way he'd start from the front row.Rafionain-Glas30-08-2026
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