Magnier avoids crash and sprints to win Giro d'Italia opening stage

NESSEBAR, Bulgaria, May 8 : France's Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) outsprinted Denmark's Tobias Lund Andresen to win the opening stage of the Giro d'Italia in Burgas on Friday after a crash near the line marred the bunch sprint finish.

The crash happened around 600 metres from the finish, leaving less than 10 riders to battle it out for the win, and Magnier pipped the Dane on the line to take his first Grand Tour stage victory, with Briton Ethan Vernon coming in third.