Paul Magnier does not fail and claims his third victory in the Giro d'Italia

Paul Magnier once again demonstrated that he is the most solid sprinter of the 2026 Giro d'Italia. The Frenchman from Soudal Quick-Step claimed his third stage victory in Pieve di Soligo thanks to a perfect combination of power and positioning, culminating in a flawless launch by Jasper Stuyven on a day that was much more nervous and demanding than the profile suggested.

Paul Magnier completes his hat-trick in the Giro after a perfect launch from Stuyven

Stage 18, spanning 171 kilometers between Fai della Paganella and Pieve di Soligo, seemed destined for a large breakaway or even an explosive move on the grueling Muro di Ca’ del Poggio, the wall that is just 1.1 kilometers long but has gradients exceeding 11%, located just over ten kilometers from the finish. However, the control of Lidl-Trek, UAE Team Emirates, and NSN ultimately nullified all adventures before the final outcome.

The breakaway took a long time to form. For over an hour, there were constant attacks, and no group managed to consolidate. Finally, Jonas Geens, Mattia Bais, Andrea Mifsud, and James Shaw managed to break away, although they never had a truly dangerous advantage. The peloton kept the gap under control at all times, aware that the stage could be decided among fast riders capable of overcoming the explosive final climb.

Meanwhile, the battle for the cyclamen jersey remained very open. Jhonatan Narváez took advantage of the intermediate sprints to continue accumulating points and apply pressure on Magnier, although the Frenchman had marked this stage as a key opportunity to cut the gap with a finish favorable to his characteristics.

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Tension increased significantly in the decisive stretch. The approach to the Muro di Ca’ del Poggio sparked a wild battle for positioning, and the group stretched to the maximum before the climb. Even Afonso Eulálio, second in the general classification and leader of the young riders' classification, tried his luck with an explosive attack near the summit after previously suffering a fall in the feeding zone.

The climb selected the group, but not enough to prevent the sprint. Jonathan Milan managed to hold on with the best and seemed one of the top favorites for victory, while riders like Corbin Strong and Orluis Aular also held their ground at the front.

However, the final resolution was once again a collective exhibition by Soudal Quick-Step. Jasper Stuyven made an extraordinary launch in the final kilometers and left Paul Magnier perfectly positioned in a tremendously chaotic finish, with no organized trains and all sprinters searching for space to the limit.

Magnier responded with a powerful acceleration and clearly won ahead of Edoardo Zambanini and Jonathan Milan. With this victory, he now has three stages in this Giro and also makes a very important impact in the points classification before the decisive final of the race.

Behind, Jonas Vingegaard experienced a relatively calm day. The Danish leader easily overcame the decisive climb and maintained his advantage in the general classification before the major alpine stages that will ultimately decide this 2026 Giro d'Italia.

Top 10 Stage 18 Giro d'Italia 2026

1. Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) – 3:46:50
2. Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain Victorious) – +00
3. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) – +00
4. Francesco Busatto (Alpecin-Premier Tech) – +00
5. Corbin Strong (NSN Cycling) – +00
6. Thomas Silva (XDS Astana) – +00
7. Madis Mihkels (EF Education) – +00
8. Filippo Magli (Bardiani-CSF) – +00
9. Sakarias Løland (Uno-X Mobility) – +00
10. Lukáš Kubiš (Unibet Rose Rockets) – +00