Soudal – Quick-Step coach reveals similarities between Magnier and Van der Poel: "Paul likes the attractive way of racing and Mathieu's flair"
Cycling
In what has been a relatively subdued spring for Soudal - Quick-Step, Paul Magnier has emerged as one of
the team’s brightest sparks. The young Frenchman impressed at Le Samyn,
finishing second behind none other than Mathieu van der Poel, a result that
hinted at his potential among cycling’s elite.
Magnier began his 2025 season in fine form, but recent weeks
have been marked by a string of misfortunes. He crashed twice on the final
stage of Tirreno–Adriatico and suffered more bad luck at Dwars door Vlaanderen.
As a result, momentum has stalled, and expectations for the Tour of Flanders must
be cautioned.
Speaking to Wieler Revue, Magnier’s coach Roman
Vanstaen reflected on his development and mindset.
“The first time at altitude training I asked him about his
examples. Then he answered: ‘Mathieu van der Poel.’ Paul likes the attractive
way of racing and Mathieu's flair. That has an appeal to young riders. Mathieu
in turn asked about Paul's wattages via Merlier.”
While his performances have been strong, Magnier is also
known for his openness and playfulness, something that sets him apart.
“Paul puts everything on Strava. We are not the biggest fans
of it, because it is grateful information. But yes, it suits the open character
that Paul has. In that sprint against Mathieu in Le Samyn, Paul reached a peak
value of over 1400 watts. In short, a good sprint, but unlike Mathieu, he no
longer had that extra acceleration.”
Vanstaen also shared a story that reveals Magnier’s more
relaxed, youthful side.
“Last year we were on an altitude training camp with a young
team. The weather was bad and Paul and a few teammates went for a walk. They
ended up in a snowstorm and came back soaking wet, while they actually still
had to do a training.”
Magnier, not keen on getting straight onto the rollers, got
creative.
“He then made a bet to avoid having to train. In the end it
came down to shaving the mats of two boys. He's a playboy in that respect. A
bit like Mathieu used to be, indeed.”
The similarities with Van der Poel don’t end there.
“Incidentally, he likes to play golf, just like Mathieu. He
would like to be on the golf course with Mathieu. For Paul, cycling is a
passion. He can be very serious and do everything to get into top shape, but he
also wants to continue to enjoy professional life.”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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