Paul Magnier out of Milano-Sanremo with Soudal - Quick-Step now on the back foot

Paul Magnier was set to make his Milano-Sanremo debut this weekend, where he would have faced Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, and a stacked field of contenders. However, the Soudal – Quick-Step rider has now been forced to withdraw following the effects of two crashes on the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico last week.

The 20-year-old Frenchman has been one of the biggest revelations of the early season, with second place finishes at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Le Samyn, proving he is already capable of competing at the highest level in the classics. His rapid rise meant he was set to lead Soudal – Quick-Step at La Primavera, a major sign of faith in his talent from the Belgian team.

With Magnier ruled out, Soudal – Quick-Step will have to rethink their strategy for Saturday, as the young star was expected to be a key figure in their Milano-Sanremo approach. Given the unpredictable nature of the race, his absence will undoubtedly impact their tactics, but the team is unwilling to take any unnecessary risks with his recovery.

According to Het Nieuwsblad, his next scheduled race, Gent-Wevelgem on 30 March, remains unaffected, with the team confident he will have enough time to recover before returning to competition. While missing Milano-Sanremo is a setback, Magnier has already shown enough promise this season to suggest he will be a major force in the spring classics for years to come.