Thanks to new coach and advice from Merlier, Magnier is suddenly the sprinter of the autumn! "Looked like a bodybuilder"

That’s what Johan Molly, masseur at Soudal Quick-Step and also the man who discovered Magnier, told Sporza. His protégé won the first three stages of the Tour of Guangxi. “I video chatted with Paul last night, and he told me he was going to win four stages in China. Personally, I’m hoping for five,” Molly laughs. “I think it’s possible, because Paul is doing fantastic right now.”

His turnaround is very impressive. Magnier’s spring season was strong but didn’t deliver what he had hoped for. The Belgian masseur saw where things went wrong. “I saw at Gent-Wevelgem that something was off with Paul. On the first ascent of the Kemmelberg everything still looked fine, but after that his candle suddenly burned out completely.”

The problem was incorrect training. He had become much more explosive, but also heavier as a result. “Over the winter, Paul trained a lot on intensity, but not on endurance. That meant his energy tank was always empty too quickly. He looked like a bodybuilder. Tim (Merlier, ed.) was worried and told Paul not to overdo it.”

After the Classics, they decided to change course. He got a new coach (Frederik Broché, ed.), who got him back on the right track. Magnier lost weight and became better suited for harder races. “At the Heistse Pijl, I again saw the sharp and fresh Paul I know. He was no longer the bodybuilder from the start of the season.”

With twelve (!) victories since September, Magnier is the undisputed sprint king of the autumn. “I don't think Paul needs to be afraid of many sprinters right now,” says Molly. “Of course, the sprint fields in Slovakia, Croatia, and Guangxi aren’t of the very highest level. But Paul also beat Philipsen in a head-to-head sprint at the Elfstedenronde.”

With 17 victories, only Pogacar ranks ahead of him, as he has 20. Catching him will be difficult. Very difficult. “To match Pogacar, Paul would have to win the overall at the Tour of Guangxi. But that’s impossible. Still, you shouldn’t underestimate Paul’s climbing abilities. As a junior, he finished third in the Alpes Classic. Paul is more than just a sprinter.”

And there’s no reason to fear a rivalry between Magnier and Merlier next year. “That won’t happen, because Tim and Paul get along way too well. Tim is still the number one. It’s still very different sprinting against Olav Kooij than against the sprinters in Guangxi. Paul can beat Kooij too, but with Tim you have more of a sure thing.”