The opening stage of the Giro d'Italia ended with a crash blocking most of the peloton just before the line, but of the few riders who avoided the wreck, Paul Magnier (Soudal-Quickstep) proved to be the quickest.

The young Frenchman leapt off the wheel of Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM) to snatch the stage win and first lead of the Giro d'Italia general classification. He will wear the coveted maglia rosa on stage 2.

António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) grabbed a two-second bonus in the Red Bull KM and is sixth in the GC standings at eight seconds.