Paul Magnier completed a remarkable campaign at the Giro d’Italia 2026, winning the third and final stage on Bulgarian soil after crossing the finish line in central Sofia ahead of his rivals. The French rider, who had already taken victory in the opening stage in Burgas, once again proved strongest in the decisive sprint, finishing first near the historic building of the National Assembly. Italy’s Jonathan Milan finished second, while Dutch cyclist Dylan Groenewegen took third place.
The stage from Plovdiv to Sofia covered 175 kilometers and ended with a dramatic acceleration near Eagles’ Bridge, where Magnier launched the move that secured his second stage win in just three days. He completed the route in 4 hours, 9 minutes and 42 seconds.
After the finish, the Frenchman admitted even he had not expected such a start to the race. “It’s incredible to win two stages in the first three days. I didn’t expect it. I worked hard for this, but the victories are very sweet. The Bulgarian roads gave me wings and I hope to continue in the same way,” Magnier said.
The final stage in Sofia turned into a massive celebration of cycling. One of the capital’s busiest boulevards was closed to traffic and transformed into a public sports zone hours before the professional riders arrived. According to Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, more than 25,000 cyclists joined the “Sofia Rides Giro” event and rode the closing section of the route before the race finale. The municipality described it as the largest cycling event ever organized in Sofia.
