France's Magnier sprints to victory in crash-hit Giro opener

Paul Magnier won the opening stage of the 2026 Giro d'Italia on Friday in a bunch sprint, after a late crash left most of the peloton out of contention.

Frenchman Magnier pipped Tobias Lund Andresen in a frantic finish following 147 kilometres of largely flat racing from Nessebar to Burgas, in the first of the three early stages which are being held in Bulgaria.

He was one of a handful of riders who were ahead of a crash 600 metres from the line which left the rest of the field to roll home in the knowledge that they would not lose any time due the proximity of the accident to the finish.

🔻An action-packed final kilometer: chaos, drama and an incredibly tight sprint finish!

🔻Ultimi 1000 m da brividi tra imprevisti e uno sprint tiratissimo!

⏪ The @continentaltire Ultimo Kilometro#GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/3Q9pZx0cEE — Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 8, 2026

Jonas Vingegaard, who rode with one fingernail painted red in support of a children's welfare charity, was one of those in the main pack held up by the crash.

Dane Vingegaard is the favourite for overall victory and on Saturday will be in the peloton for a hilly 221km ride from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo.

STAGE 1 RESULTS

1. Paul Magnier (FRA) Soudal Quick-Step 3:21:08

2. Tobias Lund Andresen (DEN) Decathlon CMA CGM Team "

3. Ethan Vernon (GBR) NSN Cycling Team "

4. Jonathan Milan (ITA) Lidl - Trek "

5. Madis Mihkels (EST) EF Education - EasyPost "

6. Giovanni Lonardi (ITA) Team Polti VisitMalta "

7. Pascal Ackermann (GER) Team Jayco AlUla "

8. Tord Gudmestad (NOR) Decathlon CMA CGM Team "

9. Max Walscheid (GER) Lidl - Trek "

10. Dries Van Gestel (BEL) Soudal Quick-Step "

11. Jasper Stuyven (BEL) Soudal Quick-Step "

12. Marc Soler (ESP) UAE Team Emirates - XRG "

13. Filippo Magli (ITA) Bardiani CSF 7 Saber "

14. Robert Stannard (AUS) Bahrain Victorious "

15. Enrico Zanoncello (ITA) Bardiani CSF 7 Saber "

16. Aleksandr Vlasov () Red Bull - BORA - "

hansgrohe

17. Casper van Uden (NED) Team Picnic PostNL "

18. Ben Turner (GBR) Netcompany INEOS "

19. Jonas Rutsch (GER) Lotto Intermarché "

20. Simone Consonni (ITA) Lidl - Trek "

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Paul Magnier (FRA) Soudal Quick-Step 3:20:58

2. Tobias Lund Andresen (DEN) Decathlon CMA CGM Team +4

3. Manuele Tarozzi (ITA) Bardiani CSF 7 Saber "

4. Ethan Vernon (GBR) NSN Cycling Team +6

5. Diego Sevilla (ESP) Team Polti VisitMalta "

6. António Morgado (POR) UAE Team Emirates - XRG +8

7. Jonathan Milan (ITA) Lidl - Trek +10

8. Madis Mihkels (EST) EF Education - EasyPost "

9. Giovanni Lonardi (ITA) Team Polti VisitMalta "

10. Pascal Ackermann (GER) Team Jayco AlUla "