Paul Magnier is in splendid form after the Giro d'Italia. The French rider from Soudal Quick-Step, after winning a race a week ago at the Heylen Vastgoed Heistse Pijl (his first race after withdrawing from the Giro Rosa five stages from the end), has doubled down today at the Dwars door het Hageland, confirming his excellent condition.

Magnier, at his eighth professional career victory, was skillful in the finale to make his best pedal stroke, distancing Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X Mobility), Tibor Del Grosso, and Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck), with whom he had approached the final cobblestone climb towards the finish line in Diest.

THE RACE. After an unsuccessful three-man breakaway by Jelle Johannink (Unibet Tietema Rockets), Kevin Vermaerke (Team Picnic PostNL), and Victor Vercouillie (Team Flanders – Baloise), the race exploded after the first passage through the Diest finish line with numerous white road sectors breaking the group into multiple sections. While Alexander Kristoff and the main day's favorite Matthew Brennan (involved in several crashes) faltered behind, the Alpecin-Deceuninck men made the difference with Tibor del Grosso, Quinten Hermans, Timo Kielich, and the returning Jasper Philipsen breaking away with Luca Van Boven (Intermarchè Wanty), Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step), Alexis Renard (Cofidis), Mike Teunissen (XDS Astana), Alex Colman and David Haverdings (Baloise Glowi Lions) and Rasmus Tiller (NOR/Uno-X Mobility). Despite some brave attempts to catch up behind, the situation remained unchanged (except for a couple of punctures that took Van Boven and Renard out of the race) until 18 km from the finish, when Tiller, followed by Magnier and Philipsen, attacked with the idea of breaking Alpecin's numerical superiority and reducing the number of final contenders. However, the move did not yield the desired results because, due to Philipsen's lack of collaboration, on the Grasbos climb 4.6 km from the finish, the chasers returned to the tail of the leading group. When the regrouping seemed imminent, Magnier forced the pace, causing Philipsen to crack, while Del Grosso and, subsequently, Hermans dropped the remaining part of the chasing group, forming a quartet with the Frenchman and Tiller in the last kilometer. The cobblestone climb towards the Diest Citadel would decide the contest, with Magnier opening up in the last 300 meters, distancing the Scandinavian and Del Grosso, thus giving himself his second victory in the last seven days.

Tiller finishes second behind him (very close to a third win in what is considered the Flemish "Strade Bianche"), while Alpecin-Deceuninck is left disappointed, having had 4 riders in the final but ending the day with a 3rd and 4th place (Del Grosso and Hermans) that cannot satisfy the Belgian team.

Best Italian at the finish line is Giacomo Nizzolo (Q36.5), who finished in 45th position, 4'03" behind Magnier.

FINISH ORDER

1. Paul Magnier (FRA/Soudal Quick-Step) 4:00:29
2. Rasmus Tiller (NOR/Uno-X Mobility) +3"
3. Tibor Del Grosso (OLA/Alpecin-Deceuninck) +9"
4. Quinten Hermans (BEL/Alpecin-Deceuninck) +14"
5. Mike Teunissen (OLA/XDS Astana)+24"
6. David Haverdings (OLA/Baloise Glowi Lions) +29"
7. Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR/Uno-X Mobility) +29"
8. Alex Colman (BEL/Team Flanders – Baloise) +29"
9. Jasper Philipsen (BEL/Alpecin-Deceuninck) +36"
10. Pier-André Côté (CAN/Israel - Premier Tech) +38"