"Unlikely to catch up with Pogacar": Paul Magnier's discoverer talks about his breakthrough autumn with 12 victories
Cycling
With 12 victories in his last 15 races, young Frenchman Paul Magnier is having a spectacular end to the season. At 21 years old, the Soudal - Quick-Step rider is turning every finish line into a podium. What's behind this transformation? His discoverer, Johan Molly, offers some keys to the success of this new jewel of world cycling.
Paul Magnier never ceases to amaze. After shining in the GP de Fourmies, he signed 4 stage victories in both the Tour de Slovaquie as well as at the CRO Race. Now, in the demanding Tour of Guangxi, he already accumulates 3 consecutive victories and aims for more.
"Last night I had a video call with Paul and he told me he wanted to win four stages in China. I'm hoping for five," laughs Johan Molly, the scout who discovered the French sprinter. "He's in a brilliant moment, he looks happy and strong." But the outlook wasn't always so rosy.
At the beginning of the year, Magnier had high ambitions: to measure himself against the big names in the Flemish classics. However, the plan didn't go as he had hoped. "At Gent-Wevelgem I already realized that something wasn't right," Molly recalls. "On the first climb up the Kemmelberg he seemed to be fine, but then he completely shut down."
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The problem was in the preparation. Magnier had focused his training on explosiveness, neglecting endurance. The result: a bodybuilder-style muscular body, but without the endurance needed to perform in the classics. Even his teammate Tim Merlier, also a sprinter on the team, warned him not to overdo it with physical development.
To save his season, Magnier made a key decision: change his coach. He put himself in the hands of Frederik Broché, former Belgian Cycling coach, and the effect was immediate. "At the Heistse Pijl we saw the real Paul again," says Molly. "He had regained freshness, agility, he no longer looked like a bodybuilder."
The new Pogacar?
With 17 wins so far this season, Magnier is behind only Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, who has 20. "To match him he would have to win the overall classification of the Tour of Guangxi, which is unlikely," admits Molly. "But don't underestimate his qualities as a climber. As a junior he was third in the Classique des Alpes."
Magnier, therefore, could have a more complete profile than many assume: he is not only a fearsome sprinter, but also a capable rider on more demanding terrain.
Magnier's rise raises a logical question: will there be an internal rivalry with Tim Merlier, also a 16-race winner this year? "Not at all," Molly assures. "They get along very well. Tim is still number one and has experience facing the best like Olav Kooij. Although Paul can beat him, Tim offers more guarantees for now."
Paul Magnier has won the first three stages of the Guangxi 2025 Tour.
The team is already thinking about reinforcing the sprint train around Magnier. Although the arrival of Edward Planckaert did not materialize, a replacement is on the way, Molly confirms.
Magnier currently leads the general classification after three wins in the first three stages. The remaining stages could offer him further opportunities to shine, although the more mountainous days will be a real test.
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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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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