Paul Magnier Sprints to First WorldTour Win at Tour of Poland

Paul Magnier has claimed his first WorldTour victory. The 21-year-old Frenchman sprinted to the win on the fourth stage of the Tour of Poland. Ben Turner finished second, Tim Torn Teutenberg third. Steven Kruijswijk led the peloton for kilometers on end for the fast men of Visma | Lease a Bike, but neither Olav Kooij nor Matthew Brennan recorded a top result.

The fourth stage of the Tour of Poland was definitely not flat, but the toughest climbs were mid-race. The Przelecz Przegibek (4.1 km at 5.7%), Orle Grilazdo (2 km at 7.9%), and Przelecz Salmopol (5.3 km at 5.8%) followed each other within a span of less than fifty kilometers. After the last climb, there were still just under seventy kilometers to the finish line in Cieszyn. It was expected to end in a sprint on the slightly uphill finish.

The break of the day consisted of three Poles. Filip Maciejuk (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), the most well-known name, was joined by two members of the national team: Pawel Bernas and Michal Pomorski. The latter had to let his breakaway companions go on the Orle Grnialzo, but at the same time the polka-dot jersey wearer Timo Kielich came bridging across the peloton. This way, three leaders crossed the Przelecz Salmopol, where Kielich took maximum points.

Kielich drops back again
The gap to the peloton remained small the whole time, thanks to the work of Ayco Bastiaens (Soudal Quick-Step) and Steven Kruijswijk (Visma | Lease a Bike). The chance the break would stay away was minimal, something Kielich also realized. With a sharp acceleration, he had already dropped Bernas, but after the last intermediate sprint the Belgian let himself fall back again. This left Maciejuk alone in front with 44 kilometers to go.

Kruijswijk in control - photo: Cor Vos

Only with fifteen kilometers remaining did the Pole get company again. Lorenzo Milesi had attacked shortly before and managed to join him. The peloton was already closing in on them, but with fresh strength up front, the two stayed away for a while longer. At 2.5 kilometers from the finish, however, they were finally caught. A sprint was inevitable on this fourth stage.

Magnier seals the deal
Groupama-FDJ initially controlled the lead-out for the sprint, but with one kilometer to go, INEOS Grenadiers' train came through. They wanted to launch the sprint again for Ben Turner, Wednesday’s winner. The Brit was well positioned, but Paul Magnier came flying past with incredible speed. The French rider from Soudal Quick-Step was untouchable and won convincingly. This marks the tenth pro victory for the 21-year-old, but his first ever at WorldTour level.

Behind Magnier, Turner had to settle for second place, while Tim Torn Teutenberg finished third. Matthew Brennan also tried to contest the sprint but got boxed in and then faded. The Brit from Visma | Lease a Bike crossed the line in 74th place, two spots ahead of teammate Olav Kooij.