
Second victory in less than 48 hours for Paul Magnier who, if there was still any doubt, confirms he is going through an excellent period of form. The Soudal Quick-Step Frenchman, who won yesterday afternoon at Dwars door het Hageland, conquered the Elfstedenronde Brugge in a sprint, overtaking Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) on the line with a cynical burst of speed. Behind them, a good third place for Elia Viviani (Lotto), in his second competitive engagement this month of June.
THE RACE REPORT. The race was animated by a breakaway that formed after about forty kilometers from the start in Bruges, composed of Maarten Verheyen (Baloise Glowi Lions), Hidde van Veenendaal (BEAT Cycling Club), Jordy Decottignies (Tarteletto - Isorex), Baptiste Planckaert (Van Rysel Roubaix), Timo de Jong (VolkerWessels Cycling Team) and Samuel Leroux (Team TotalEnergies). Although proceeding in agreement, the six never managed to gain more than 3 minutes of advantage due to the control exercised by the peloton, which absorbed them surgically with 2.5 kilometers to go.
At this point, Alpecin-Deceuninck, Lotto, and Uno-X Mobility took control to best approach the sprint, which ultimately, despite Philipsen's excellent burst along the barriers, smiled upon Paul Magnier. Finding an unexpected gap in the last 50 meters, the young French talent managed to come from behind ferociously, launching a sprint that, by millimeters, allowed him to burn the more renowned Belgian.
For the Soudal Quick-Step rider, this makes three victories in the last 8 days, a record that certifies the excellent condition acquired after leaving the Giro d'Italia (which he finished after 15 stages). Alpecin-Deceuninck (which closes its two-day classics in Belgium with a second, third, and fourth place) and especially Jasper Philipsen are still bitter, who faded yesterday in the final of the race marking his return to competition, and today had to postpone once again his second seasonal victory: the only "hurrah" in this 2025 remains, for now, the one achieved at Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne on March 2nd.
FINISH ORDER
1. Paul Magnier (FRA/Soudal Quick-Step) 4:06:29
2. Jasper Philipsen (BEL/Alpecin-Deceuninck) s.t.
3. Elia Viviani (ITA/Lotto) s.t.
4. Oded Kogut (ISR/Israel-Premier Tech) s.t.
5. Joes Oosterlinck (BEL/VolkerWessels Cycling Team) s.t.
6. Arnaud Démare (FRA/Arkea-B&B Hotels) s.t.
7. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/Uno-X Mobility) s.t.
8. Paul Hennequin (FRA/Euskaltel-Euskadi) s.t.
9. Gleb Syritsa (RUS/XDS Astana Team) s.t.
10. Dylan Groenewegen (NED/Team Jayco-AlUla) s.t.
Updated.