Paul Magnier on being compared to young Wout Van Aert: "It's a nice compliment. Wout van Aert is a great rider"
Cycling
Paul Magnier entered the professional peloton with a bang, winning his first ever race in the Soudal - Quick-Step jersey at Challenge Mallorca. This of course didn't go unnoticed and many are already drawing parallels between the 19-year-old Frenchman and world's best riders. Now he'll have a chance to show his speed once again at Tour of Oman.
"For example, Remco Evenepoel did not follow the classic route and things happened very quickly for him," he tells Het Nieuwsblad. "Mountain biking has given me a good physical basis. I was also part of the French national squad, which was already a top sporting environment. But of course I still have a lot to learn. Road cycling is a world that I am still discovering."
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Lefevere previously indicated that Magnier beat Tim Merlier twice in the sprints during training. "It was uphill and with Tim training is not really a benchmark," he makes an important comment. "He is someone who 'transforms' in a race. In the Alula Tour he already showed how good he is with two very nice victories. Then it doesn't matter whether you win or lose during training in January. Of course it was good for my confidence."
What is impressive is that Magnier produces the wattages that Wout van Aert produced at the same age. "I hadn't heard that before, but it's a nice compliment. Wout van Aert is a great rider. During training I was at 1,800 watts. So with my trainer we now want to go to 2,000 watts. I may not even look like a sprinter, but I often go to the gym now and do a lot of muscle exercises. I'm starting to get a bit of thighs and calves, so to speak."
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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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Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026
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