
Five sprints, five victories. This is the perfect score with which Paul Magnier completed the Tour of Guangxi 2025, a race that, after 8 victories in 17 days between Okolo Slovenska and CRO Race, will inevitably lead him next year to raise the bar and have even more eyes on him.
Series of repeated successes like those strung together in the last month and a half of races do not go unnoticed, so many will soon be waiting to challenge the French sprinter from Soudal Quick-Step, who in the meantime enjoyed an absolutely memorable week in Asia.
"What we did here is incredible. We came here with a very ambitious team because we wanted to do well, but I really didn't expect this much, even though in the last two months the form has always been excellent. I think we can be truly proud of the work we did together here in China, where I would like to return in 2026 to try to match what we achieved in this edition," said the native of Laredo after the awards ceremony, who, once he secured his first victory in Fangchenggang, didn't stop.
"I think the victory in that stage was the most beautiful. I came here with a bit of pressure, but I immediately scored. From that moment, you know, you think that everything that comes is a bonus and in our case, each day added one," Magnier explained, feeling particularly comfortable, also thanks to the work of his teammates, on the wide Chinese roads.
"Sprinting on these wide roads is something really special. Here, timing is super important and I managed to find it every day, and I can only be happy about that. It must also be said that the credit is certainly also due to Dries van Gestel, who was really helpful by doing work every day that allowed me to show all my sprinting power. It was really fantastic. On TV it seems easy, but it's very difficult to be there at 70 km/h and decide the right moment to start. It's a moment between launching the sprint too early or too late and therefore precluding the possibility of winning."
These timing lessons will be useful to Magnier (and the men who will surround him) next year when, to quantity, the twenty-one-year-old Frenchman will try to combine the quality of victories.
"I can't wait to race next season at a higher level and see what I'll manage to do. This year I came second at the Omloop and struggled a bit more in the other classics: in 2026 I hope to do even better, but in any case, I want to proceed calmly, one step at a time. I hope, however, to manage to win a great classic or a Monument sometime in my career."
Before thinking about 2026, however, Magnier will have time to rest and recharge his batteries by simply spending the days away from the bike as agreed with the team.
"After returning from China, I'll do the first training camp with the team in Belgium and then spend some time with my family and my girlfriend," concluded the second most victorious rider of the season behind Tadej Pogacar.
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