"Of course, Tadej Pogacar will explode on the Cipressa and Poggio" but Paul Magnier doesn't give up hope of Milano-Sanremo victory

Every year, Milano-Sanremo offers up one of the most interesting and exciting finales to any bike race on the calendar. One of the reasons for this, is that so many different types of riders can genuinely head into the race with hopes of victory as sprinters, puncheurs and Grand Tour winners alike do battle for Monument glory.

This year, one of the standout contenders for the win is world champion Tadej Pogacar. Despite the fact the Slovenian has never quite managed to crack the winning formula at Milano-Sanremo, all eyes will be on the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader. When looking at potential dark horses and disruptors though, the name of 20-year-old Frenchman Paul Magnier is surely near the top of the list. The Soudal - Quick-Step wonderkid, announced by his own team as 'the new Tom Boonen', may have suffered a nasty crash on the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico last weekend, but if Milano-Sanremo ends in a sprint, the recent Omloop Het Nieuwsblad runner-up is likely to fancy his chances.

"Milano-Sanremo suits my qualities, but I still have a lot to learn there," assesses Magnier honestly, in quotes collected by IDL Pro Cycling. "It’s a Monument, not an easy race. I’m going to gain experience, but to learn as much as possible, I need to make it as far as I can in the final. I’m not stressed about it."

As mentioned, the Frenchman did suffer a blow on the weekend, crashing hard in the final sprint on Tirreno-Adriatico. According to his team though, Magnier managed to escape without any serious injuries. This likely means that Milano-Sanremo hopes shouldn't be scuppered.

When it comes to the race though, Magnier, like many others, has eyes on the Rainbow Jersey. "Of course, Pogacar will explode on the Cipressa and Poggio. He has the team for it, but in Milano-Sanremo, there are always so many possibilities," the 20-year-old previews. "I’ve never been to Sanremo before, but after Tirreno-Adriatico, I’ll go there to scout the route."