Paul Magnier takes a second sprint victory at the Giro d'Italia winning stage 3 after the breakaway almost took the day in Sofia

Paul Magnier of Soudal Quick-Step secured his second stage victory at the 2026 Giro d'Italia by winning the sprint finish on stage 3, which concluded in Sofia, Bulgaria. The French rider, wearing the cyclamen jersey as leader of the points classification, narrowly outpaced Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek and Dylan Groenewegen of Unibet-Rose Rockets in a tightly contested sprint over cobbled streets. Despite the breakaway’s persistent effort throughout the day, Magnier’s powerful finish ensured the sprinters’ teams ultimately controlled the finale. The stage covered 175 kilometres from Plovdiv to Sofia and featured a moderate amount of climbing, including the second-category Borovets Pass. A three-man breakaway formed immediately after the start, consisting of Diego Sevilla, Alessandro Tonelli, and Manuele Tarozzi, who maintained a lead for most of the day. Sevilla extended his lead in the mountains classification by winning the categorized climb, while the peloton, led by the team of overall leader Thomas Silva, gradually reduced the gap to catch the breakaway with 500 metres remaining. Magnier expressed surprise at his victory, admitting he was unsure he had won until after celebrating. He praised his team’s efforts in positioning him well for the final sprint and acknowledged the strength of his rivals. The win consolidates his status as one of the race’s top sprinters and provides momentum as the Giro moves into its more demanding stages in Italy. With the race taking a rest day on Monday as the riders transfer from Hungary to Italy, the next opportunity for sprinters like Magnier will likely come on Thursday’s stage from Paestum to Naples. Meanwhile, Thomas Silva retains the overall race lead, holding the pink jersey after finishing safely in the peloton on stage 3. As the Giro transitions to Italian roads, attention will turn to how the sprinters and general classification contenders adapt to the more challenging terrain ahead.