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Cycling-Magnier avoids crash and sprints to win Giro d’Italia opening stage

By Thomson Reuters May 8, 2026 | 9:51 AM

NESSEBAR, Bulgaria, May 8 (Reuters) – France’s Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) ​outsprinted Denmark’s ‌Tobias Lund Andresen to win the opening stage of ‌the ​Giro d’Italia ⁠in Burgas ⁠on Friday after a crash near the line marred ​the bunch sprint finish.

The crash ⁠happened ⁠around 600 metres ​from the finish, ​leaving less than 10 ‌riders to battle it out for the ⁠win, and Magnier pipped the Dane on the ⁠line ‌to take ⁠his first ​Grand ‌Tour stage victory, ​with Briton ⁠Ethan Vernon coming in third.

(Reporting by Trevor Stynes, Editing by Toby ​Davis)