In the first part of the season, Paul Magnier raced Strade Bianche, Dwars door Vlaanderen and Tour of Frankfurt, and not the U23 ones, but the pro races, which are WorldTour classics. To call him an U23 rider, therefore, is extremely reductive. Physiologically he can already be defined as an all-round professional.

Like him, however, are quite a few, practically all those who belong to the development rosters of the WorldTour teams. We’re talking about U23s who already work and ride like pros, not only because they often compete with the big boys, but also because they train and think like pros. This means that the level of this Giro Next Gen 2024 is very high indeed, and the 45.6km/h average of today’s stage is there to prove it.

Paul Magnier proved once again today that he already thinks like a seasoned rider: in the Pertusio – Borgomanero stage, he led his team to perfection, didn’t wear them out, took useful points at the intermediate sprints to strengthen the Maglia Rossa and then managed the final sprint to perfection.

“It was important for us to get to the sprint after controlling all day,” he said after the finish. There were many attacks, it was a nervous stage, but at the last kilometre I still had several teammates to support me in the sprint. There was a headwind, it was important to choose the right moment to go. Tomorrow there should be another sprint, maybe we could turn to Andrea Raccagni Noviero, it would be important for him to win, since he does not have a professional contract for 2025″. Also generous towards his teammates, a true captain.