"In some races that can cost him the win" - Tim Merlier worries about teammate Paul Magnier's sprinting success due to one detail
Cycling
Sprinting is not all about the power. Aerodynamics, positioning, experience and willingness to take risks are all key parts of one of professional cycling's most thrilling moments but if one does not rule them all, it's not easy to succeed. Tim Merlier worries that his teammates Paul Magnier may lack one of them, and that it may affect him in the future.
The two are teammates since Soudal - Quick-Step signed the Frenchman back in 2024, and the 22-year old's progression has been stupendous. He took 19 pro wins in 2025, but most of them in smaller races. This confirmed he had the power, but perhaps not the perfect sprinting technique dialed in, which would have him struggle in the highly contested bunch sprints. Dialing it back 12 months, Magnier's best result at the 2025 Giro d'Italia was only a third place; whilst he finished in the Top10 only two other times.
This year however, the Frenchman has managed to improve on his consistency. Whilst a classics-focused spring perhaps saw him miss out on a few potential results, he won two stages at the Volta ao Algarve and is currently also the main favourite to win the maglia ciclamino at the Giro d'Italia after winning both sprint stages in Bulgaria.
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Magnier plays it too safe in the sprints
However Magnier is an interesting case, as Merlier details. "Frederik (Broché, his coach, ed.) 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". Whilst impressive, those power numbers also reveal that Magnier's way of riding means he spends more energy before a sprint.
"But Paul also makes mistakes in that lead-up that we are going to have to sit down and talk about," Merlier said in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad. "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."
Paul Magnier winning stage 3 of the 2026 Giro d'Italia
Whilst at the Giro it hasn't looked like a major barrier for the Frenchman, Merlier talks from a place of experience, as a multiple-time Tour de France stage winner (as well as in other sprinter goals such as the UAE Tour, Scheldeprijs, and many others).
Magnier is battling the likes of Jonathan Milan and Dylan Groenewegen at the Giro, however there are plenty other top men who he will be facing in the future, alongside their leadouts such as Jasper Philipsen an Matthew Brennan; but overall pelotons where there are more contenders. The two continue to split calendars successfully for Quick-Step, who is looking for a third top sprinter into the 2026 season - Jordi Meeus, Arnaud de Lie and Ben Turner have all been linked to the team, although it has been previously reported that only the latter will be making the move.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
- I'm picking .... .... Never mind 🫥flyer07-11-2026
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