"We wanted to avoid the scenario of last year." - Paul Magnier rights wrongs of last season as he roars to sprint victory in ADAC Cyclassics Hamburg
CyclingSunday, 16 August 2026 at 19:00
Paul Magnier took his first WorldTour one-day race victory on Sunday after he sprinted to victory in the ADAC Cyclassics Hamburg. However, the race has been on the Soudal Quick-step fast man's mind for some time after 2025 disappointment.
Magnier backed up his Giro d'Italia triple stage wins in May with his first one-day win at this level in a field that contained the likes of Jonathan Milan, Olav Kooij, Isaac del Toro and Arnaud de Lie among others.
Milan and Kooij didn't make it to contest the sprint, falling behind in a split as the peloton surged over the final ascent of the Waseberg climb with 16 kilometers to go. That climb was lit up by a returning del Toro.
2026 ADAC Cyclassics finish
Isaac del Toro lights up finale
The UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider, racing for the first time since his Tour de France podium last month, used his favoured terrain to try and break free, but ultimately packed in his challenge as the sprint teams and versatile contenders head their day.
In the finish, the likes of Mike Teunissen, Laurence Pithie, Arnaud de Lie and Huub Artz were among the top ten, but the 22-year-old kept them firmly out of the winning picture as he sprinted from the front to win by over a bike length after 207 kilometers.
"This is my first victory in a WorldTour race. I am proud that I was able to finish off the work of my teammates," Magnier said after his victory.
Magnier avoids 2025 ADAC Cyclassics finish fate
There was a different story last year as Rory Townsend denied the sprinters, winning from the early breakaway after 187 kilometers at the front of affairs in a big upset.
This time around, Magnier and his Soudal team were determined to give him the opportunity to open up his sprint. He added: "We wanted to avoid the scenario of last year."
He added: "I want to thank my team, who did an incredible job all day, bringing back the breakaway riders and then riding very hard to keep the peloton together and prevent any attacks in the final part of the race.
"In the last kilometer, my teammates positioned me perfectly, from where I was able to launch my sprint. It's a huge pleasure to win here in Hamburg, on a course that suited me and in a prestigious race where so many great sprinters have triumphed over the last three decades."
The Deutschland Tour next Wednesday is next on the agenda for Magnier, where he's expected to have competition from Phil Bahaus, Fernando Gaviria, Antonio Morgado and Filippo Fiorelli among the fast men currently expected to start the race.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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