Quick-Step wonder Paul Magnier doesn't hide his ambitions: "I want to be world champion one day"
Cycling
The Soudal - Quick-Step dynamic duo Luke Lamperti and Paul Magnier toook the professional peloton by storm at the start of 2024 with the latter winning stages on Mallorca and in Oman.
Since then, Magnier kept slightly lower profile, but has found his winning legs again in the biggest U23 events; Course de la Paix and Giro Next Gen. At the Italian mini-Giro, he's already won two stages with two more days of racing to complete. Of course he also comfortably leads the points classification - something he still has to get used to.
"I want to be world champion one day," Magnier tells Eurosport without a hesitation about his biggest dream. But the 20-year-old quickly adds on to the list. "I also want to wear the yellow jersey of the Tour de France, but not in just any way. After a victory in a sprint, that wouldn't be bad (smiles). Racing for the general classification doesn't interest me too much at the moment."
Naturally, there are also shorter term objectives for the Frenchman. For example his debut at the classics in 2025. "Next year I am expected to focus on the classics. I'm on the right team for that. I have a big burst of speed. I like sprinting better and better, but I also get over the bumps quite well. This year, I was a little young to take part in this type of race. Next year it will be something else. The Tour of Flanders makes me dream. Paris-Roubaix too."
Magnier mentions sprinting as his main weapon, but it didn't always draw him in this direction, peforming well on all types of terrains in juniors. "It's funny because, when I was little, I didn't imagine myself being a sprinter at all. Sprinters never made me dream. I didn't necessarily have an idol."
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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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- Podcast sounds great. Two so called experts stating the f*cking obvious.wrsty04-11-2026
- A mindset that reminds me of Tim Declerq. I loved watching that guy just pound away the kilometers, hours at the front, holding an entire breakaway in check on his own. Bjerg seems like a similar guy. Curling, the team sport.RidesHills04-11-2026
- He will be lol, but he can still win on the climbs hahaawp04-11-2026
- I would love to have his inconsistency. How many wins this year? 2 TdF stages, a WC, a Euro championship, San Sebastian, multiple wins early year. Monument podiums. I'd take it. I don't think he has a chance in the TdF, but he is still amazing.mij04-11-2026
- He's not going to win the TdF. Maybe if they make every single stage a TT he could win. But I still believe Tadej would just sharpen his TT skills and win.mij04-11-2026
- You beat me to it. Should he make a full recovery (likely) and go light early in the year. One, two, three. Don't ask me, I don't give a damn. Should he be on a Feel-Like-He's-Fixin'-to-Die High.Yepperoni04-11-2026
- The deciding factor may be the (TBD) number of (any type of) kilometers without Pogacar.Yepperoni04-11-2026
- Unexplained chronic fatigue is an all too common bitch. The hard to find definitive answer may lie buried in gut mechanisms. A mystery of the deep.Yepperoni04-11-2026
- It's weird to say Evenepoel would be making a "serious mistake by adding the 2027 Giro d'Italia to his calendar, warning that such a decision could even be interpreted as a lack of confidence in his ability to win the Tour de France." It may well be a mistake but with so many commentators (of all sorts) continuously claiming almost everything Remco does as being a mistake, almost nobody should care what the pundits and the disparagers should say. His team may not want him to do the Giro, and that matters. But it's possibly or probably up to Remco to decide and it may not have to be decided on until a month or so ahead of the race. Yes , Remco is inconsistent much like the majority of the best riders but he's enjoying a period of not having been recently injured (or sick). Whatever he does he need not be concerned with critics who will second guess any perceived failure no matter what. I suspect he will have enough other races on his schedule so he won't be considering it. But the worst reason to not race it is because of what some will say - humorous that be.Yepperoni04-11-2026
- I'll say clean sweep all grand tourZamorano04-11-2026
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