"I want to fight for rainbow jersey": Paul Magnier has a plan to become the best rider in the world three years from now
Cycling
Soudal - Quick-Step can still lean back on their experienced sprinter Tim Merlier, but his successor Paul Magnier is growing so fast that he might overshadow his Belgian teammate in almost no time. The 21-year-old secured 19 professional victories in 2025, and shows no signs of slowing down in his quest to become the best sprinter in the world. And the Frenchman doesn't like to think small as he already explores his opportunties to become a prominent figure at the cobbled Classics as well.
"I think we will have a lot of leaders for the Classics, we can play many different cards with Dylan van Baarle, Jasper Stuyen, Tim Merlier, myself and even Laurenz Rex. We have five big riders that can go far in the race," Magnier told a small group of journalists, including Cyclingnews.
This year he might not yet be the chosen leader for the biggest events such as Tour de France or Paris-Roubaix, but that could change quickly if the Frenchman delivers in the run-up races. "If I can already really perform at Omloop [Het Nieuwsblad], Gent-Wevelgem and Dwars door Vlaanderen, it's going to be a super nice season," he said.
And Magnier is certain that the opportunity to stand in the spotlight on the biggest scene will come one day. "I don't want to burn the steps and go to some races just to be there on the start line. It's like the Tour de France; if one day I go to the Tour, I want to be able to perform. I still believe that I need to progress and get another season more in the legs to really perform in the biggest races."
Importance of return to Wolfpack's roots
Just earlier this week, Magnier penned a contract extension with the Wolfpack through 2029, expressing mutual trust in the long-term project. "I think it was a normal decision for me after such a great season," Magnier explained. "The team was really confident in me, and with the departure of Remco, they really want to rebuild the team for the Classics."
That idea perfectly alligns with Magnier's: "For me, it was a very good decision. I think we're the best sprint team. There are a lot of teams that try to be the best in the world by winning the GC races. I really believe that the Wolfpack wants to stay focused on the sprints and the Classics. They don't really want to spend all their money on GC riders and building a whole team around a GC rider. That's something really important for me."
Paul Magnier enjoyed a T-rex-style celebration in Poland
Merlier-Magnier dynamics
It's not so long ago that Soudal - Quick-Step had to handle having multiple top sprinters at their hands, but if anyone knows how to keep several fast men happy, it has to be the Belgain team.
Currently, the strategy seems to give Magnier and Merlier completely different racing programmes: "I think the only races we will do together will be maybe Gent-Wevelgem," said Magnier. And it seems to do the trick. At least for now.
"I think a lot of people think that when there are two sprinters in a team, they try to be rivals, fight to do the best races. That's not the case with Tim. We have two completely different programmes. We just want to try to help each other to win as many races as possible, to keep the team really motivated and have the best careers possible."
Dreaming of rainbow jersey
Sprinters have been waiting for an opportunity to wear the rainbow jersey since Peter Sagan's three-peat between 2015-2017. And they'll have to stay patient because the coming two World Championships in Montreal and Haute-Savoie don't seem to bring about the desired opportunity either. Thus the eyes are set on Abu Dhabi in two years from now. Unless organizers decide build an artificially mountainous race...
"In three years, the 2028 world championships will be held in Dubai and then in Belgium and Denmark. So there are going to be three big opportunities to be the world champion. It's the biggest goal of my career," Magnier declared with nonchalance.
"I really hope I will have no injury, no sickness, nothing. I hope everything will go in a good way, and if everything goes right, why can't I one day be there fighting for the rainbow jersey?"
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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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