Giro d’Italia: Paul Magnier wins stage one but finish marred by mass crash

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.

The Frenchman Magnier pipped Tobias Lund Andresen in a frantic finish after 147km of largely flat racing from Nessebar to Burgas, in the first of the three opening stages in Bulgaria.

He was one of a handful of riders ahead of a crash 600m from the line, with the rest of the field rolling home knowing they would not lose time due to the proximity of the accident to the finish. Magnier, 22, claimed his first ever Grand Tour win and also became the first Frenchman to wear the pink jersey for the overall lead since Bruno Armirail three years ago.

The peloton ride during the opening stage of this year’s Giro. Photograph: Luca Bettini/AFP/Getty Images

“I’m so proud of the team and I’m so happy to be starting the Giro in such good form,” said Magnier. “The finale was chaotic after an easy day for everyone, on a narrow road. Beating such good sprinters here makes me very happy.”

Magnier, who was born in Texas and moved to France as a youngster, is one of his country’s young guns alongside Paul Seixas and last year clocked up 19 wins, the second-highest behind Tadej Pogacar. His win on Friday is a return to form following a disappointing spring classics season, after beginning the year with two stages at the Volta ao Algarve.

Jonathan Milan, who won the sprinters’ jersey at last year’s Giro, could only finish fourth after escaping a crash which kept other sprinters like Dylan Groenewegen and Kaden Groves from contesting the finale.

Riders strung out during the stage. Photograph: Gian Mattia D’Alberto/LaPresse/Shutterstock

The overall favourite Jonas Vingegaard, who rode with one fingernail painted red in support of a children’s welfare charity, was among those held up by the crash in the main bunch.