France’s Paul Magnier sprinted to victory in the Giro d’Italia’s opening stage after a chaotic crash in the final metres. The 22‑year‑old Soudal‑Quick Step rider edged Norway’s Tobias Lund Andresen by inches to claim his first Grand Tour win and take the pink jersey. The 147km route finished in Burgas, Bulgaria, under overcast skies on Sunday.

With about 700 metres to go the narrow road squeezed the peloton, triggering a pile‑up that involved roughly 20 riders. Broken bikes and fallen cyclists blocked the finish, leaving only eleven competitors to contest the sprint. Jonathan Milan, Lidl‑Trek’s points‑classification hopeful, arrived too late for a podium, settling fourth as Dylan Groenewegen limped over the line in the chaotic finale.

The crash spared overall contenders; Jonas Vingegaard and other GC hopefuls crossed safely thanks to the three‑kilometre rule. Vingegaard enters as the pre‑race favourite, with a sizable lead expected once the race reaches Italy’s Alpine climbs. Magnier’s stage win secures him the first pink jersey of the tour, cementing his status as a rising sprint talent for future classics and Grand Tours.