Magnier claim third Giro stage victory

Magnier claim third Giro stage victoryImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Paul Magnier also won stage one and three of this year's Giro d'ItaliaByLorraine McKennaBBC Sport JournalistPublished5 minutes agoFrenchman Paul Magnier won stage 18 after a bunch sprint to seal a hat-trick of victories at this year's Giro d'Italia. Soudal–Quick-Step rider Magnier beat Italians Edoardo Zambanini and Jonathan Milan to the line in Pieve di Soligo on Thursday to reclaim the points jersey from Ecuador's Jhonatan Narvaez.Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard holds the overall leader's pink jersey, with Austrian Felix Gall and Dutchman Thymen Arensman his closest challengers. This was Magnier's first stage win since the race left Sofia in Bulgaria following stage three earlier this month.The 22-year-old, who is making his debut, also triumphed in the opening 147km stage from Nessebar to Burgas. "I did not think that it would happen today so it makes it even more beautiful," Magnier told TNT Sports. Valgren powers clear to win first Grand Tour stagePublished1 day ago"I was not confident in myself this morning. I even dropped on the first climb and then I tried to focus again. "My team-mates were around me on the climb and they made it a sprint. I'm so happy to win today." He also thanked his Soudal–Quick-Step team-mate Jasper Stuyven, whose launch in the chaotic closing stages put Magnier in the perfect position on the final right-hand bend to sprint away from his competitors on the end straight. "[Magnier] is a wonderful racer. We took the pressure off today, told him to stay focused, that it might be his day," said Belgian Stuyven. Friday's stage 19 is the first of two punishing mountain stages before Sunday's procession finale in Rome.The 151km queen stage in the Dolomites features six categorised climbs, with the peloton reaching the highest peak of the race at Passo Giau on their way to a summit...