"The Wolfpack feeling is slowly coming back": Soudal Quick-Step confident in Magnier's chances ahead of Spring Classics

Soudal - Quick-Step might not have a big overall leader or a top sprinter at Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico right now. However, they are still building confidence for the upcoming Spring Classics. After Jasper Stuyven took a third place in the second stage of Paris-Nice, 21-year-old talent Paul Magnier also showed great form by finishing fourth in the third stage of Tirreno-Adriatico.

Team director Wilfried Peeters spoke to WielerFlits to explain the team's plans for their young star. Peeters is happy with Magnier's progress, even if the young Frenchman did not win the sprint stage. He explained what went wrong in the final moments of the race.

"You always try to win a stage in the run-up to the classics, but that is not easy," Peeters said. "Paul lost his lead-outs in the final kilometers and had to come from too far. We did try, and he still came up strong, but positioning and timing were very important. The puzzle pieces did not fall into place."

A couple of weeks ago, Magnier had terrible luck during the Opening Weekend in Belgium. He suffered two flat tires at very bad moments, which ruined his chances. Despite this, Peeters believes the team is in a very good place mentally.

"We have had bad luck, but much more importantly: we have the feeling that we have put a team together again and the Wolfpack feeling is slowly coming back. That is important towards the Flemish block."

Because the team is focusing heavily on the races in Flanders, they are keeping their expectations low for the first big Monument of the year, Milan-San Remo. "Paul is certainly not the big favorite for Milan-San Remo," Peeters admitted.

He explained that racing against the biggest stars in the world on this specific course requires years of practice. "Experience is very important in La Primavera, and it is only the first time he is participating. It is looking to the future and gaining confidence. If Pogacar and Van der Poel start, then you know it will be difficult. They have proven that over the last two years on the Cipressa."

Instead of putting pressure on Magnier in Italy, the team wants him to focus on the cobbled races in Belgium. When asked if they are putting everything into the Flemish classics, Peeters was clear. "We are certainly working towards that," he confirmed.

To help the young rider succeed, Soudal Quick-Step will surround him with two very experienced riders who recently joined the team. "Paul is a rider who can handle quite a lot of races, but experience is also very important in those races. Fortunately, we have signed Dylan van Baarle and Jasper Stuyven to transfer that experience to him. Let's hope those three form a good trio."

Despite being just 21 years old, Magnier already has 26 professional wins. Two of them came at this year's edition of Volta ao Algarve, where he prevailed in stages 1 and 4 over some of the strongest sprinters, such as Jasper Philipsen.