Challenge de Mallorca 2022 (3 Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana) – [Highlights]

January 28, 2021

Challenge de Mallorca 2021 – Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana – Lloseta – Lloseta : 158,9 km

The Challenge Vuelta Ciclista a Mallorca (English: Tour of Majorca, Catalan: Challenge Volta Ciclista a Mallorca) is a series of four (five until 2012) professional one day road bicycle races held on the Spanish island of Mallorca in late January or early February. The event is used as an early season preparatory event by many of the top teams in readiness for the bigger races later in the season. The five races are ranked 1.1 on the UCI Europe Tour.

Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) won the Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana, beating Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) in a seven-man sprint at the finish in Deia.

Already winner of the race in 2017, 2018 and 2019, Wellens was more than familiar with the gently climbing finishing straight and he duly proved the quickest, though his victory was briefly in doubt as the commissaires reviewed footage of the sprint after Valverde raised an arm in protest on crossing the line.

Within minutes, however, Wellens was formally confirmed as the winner of the Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana, his first victory since he claimed the overall title at Étoile de Bessèges last year. The Belgian, like the rest of his Lotto Soudal team, endured a subdued 2021 campaign thereafter, but he has begun the new season strongly, having already placed 4th at the Trofeo Calvia on Wednesday.

“I knew the finish all too well and I needed to be first or second out of the final corner,” Wellens said. “So I did and could take the victory.”

The impressive solo winner of the Trofeo Calvia, Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates), caught the eye again here, as the American was part of the winning move that formed on the key ascent of the Coll de Puig Major, and he would finish 4th in the decisive sprint.

Valverde’s teammate Enric Mas was also part of the winning move, together with Kobe Goossens (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) and Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe), and Movistar looked to take advantage of that numerical superiority in the finale.

With Mas seemingly delegated to go on the offensive, Valverde could spare himself for an eventual group sprint. In his first race of 2022, Mas showed few signs of rustiness, repeatedly forcing the pace on the climb of Puig Major and leading over summit.

Mas was just as aggressive over the other side, eventually forging clear alone with 13km to go and opening a small gap over the rest of the break. He would be clawed back with 8km remaining and, an exploratory move from Wellens notwithstanding, the break stayed together to the finish in Deia.

Behind, Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic) and Ben Zwiehoff (Bora-Hansgrohe) had formed a resolute two-man chasing tandem over the top of the Puig Major, but although they closed to within 14 seconds by the finish, they had to settle for 8th and 9th place on the day.

How it unfolded

The early exchanges were animated by a break featuring Jacopo Mosca (Trek-Segafredo), Sander De Pestel (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Julen Irizar (Euskaltel-Euskadki), Jokin Murguialday (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Raul Garcia (Kern Pharma) and Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-Samsic). They led over the Coll de Femenies and the Coll de Soller, building a maximum lead of 3:30 before Bora-Hansgrohe and Movistar steadily set about pegging them back ahead of the decisive haul up the Puig Major.

The race duly ignited on the category 1 climb, with Zwiehoff kicking off a spate of attacks in the company of Elie Gesbert (Arkéa-Samsic). They were initially joined by Valverde and then by half a dozen others as the peloton fragmented on the climb.

Mas’ own forceful attack with a shade under 40km remaining helped to create the winning move, with Buchmann, Clarke, Goossens, McNulty, Valverde, Wellens, Zwiehoff, Gebsert and Barguil giving chase.

Gesbert made it across to Mas by himself, but he would pay for those efforts when McNulty, Wellens, Valverde et al closed the gap nearer the summit. The Frenchman was distanced a kilometre or so from the top, while his teammate Barguil was also left behind in the company of Zwiehoff.

Out in front, Mas continued his onslaught over the other side, while Valverde remained poised for a sprint, but the spoils in Deia would fall to Wellens.

Challenge Mallorca continues on Saturday with the Trofeo Pollença-Port d’Andratx and concludes with Sunday’s Trofeo Playa de Palma.

Results :
1 Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal 4:12:32
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team
3 Simon Clarke (Aus) Israel-Premier Tech
4 Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates
5 Kobe Goossens (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
6 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
7 Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:14
8 Warren Barguil (Fra) Arkea-Samsic
9 Ben Zwiehoff (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:19
10 Felix Gall (Aut) AG2R Citroen Team 0:01:52
11 Daan Hoole (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
12 Ryan Gibbons (RSA) UAE Team Emirates
13 Davide Villella (Ita) Cofidis
14 Frederik Wandahl (Den) Bora-Hansgrohe
15 Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team
16 Jan Bakelants (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
17 Gotzon Martin Sanz (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:01:55
18 Kevin Colleoni (Ita) BikeExchange-Jayco
19 Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis
20 Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Movistar Team
21 Raul Garcia Pierna (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma
22 Filippo Zana (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’
23 Nans Peters (Fra) AG2R Citroen Team
24 Jonathan Lastra Martinez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
25 Simon Geschke (Ger) Cofidis
26 James Piccoli (Can) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:01:58
27 Urko Berrade Fernandez (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma
28 Michal Schlegel (Cze) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
29 Elie Gesbert (Fra) Arkea-Samsic
30 Samuele Zoccarato (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’
31 Andres Camilo Ardila Ordoñez (Col) UAE Team Emirates 0:02:01
32 Asier Etxeberria Zafra (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
33 Igor Arrieta Lizarraga (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma 0:02:03
34 Mikel Bizkarra Etxegibel (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:02:14
35 Santiago Umba Lopez (Col) Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli
36 Sebastian Berwick (Aus) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:02:22
37 Ben Hermans (Bel) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:02:36
38 Harm Vanhoucke (Bel) Lotto Soudal
39 Ivan Ramiro Sosa Cuervo (Col) Movistar Team 0:02:49
40 Adria Moreno Sala (Spa) Burgos-BH 0:02:56
41 Christopher Juul-Jensen (Den) BikeExchange-Jayco 0:04:11
42 Diego Rosa (Ita) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team 0:07:07
43 Jaakko Hänninen (Fin) AG2R Citroen Team
44 Gregor Mühlberger (Aut) Movistar Team 0:07:35
45 Luca Covili (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’ 0:07:47
46 Jon Agirre Egaña (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma
47 Thomas Armstrong (GBr) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas 0:08:50
48 Guy Niv (Isr) Israel Start-Up Nation
49 Ander Okamika Bengoetxea (Spa) Burgos-BH
50 Alessandro Covi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:08:53
51 Mattia Bais (Ita) Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli
52 Davide Bais (Ita) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team
53 Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Arkea-Samsic
54 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team
55 Sergio Garcia Gonzalez (Spa) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team
56 Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
57 Thibaut Ponsaerts (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team 0:11:04
58 Ruben Apers (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise 0:11:10
59 Omar El Gouzi (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’
60 Mateu Estelrich Cabanellas (Spa) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas 0:11:48
61 Kasper Saver (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team
62 Jorre Debaele (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team
63 Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
64 Andrii Ponomar (Ukr) Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli
65 Jens Schuermans (Bel) Beat Cycling
66 Edoardo Zardini (Ita) Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli
67 Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
68 Lukasz Owsian (Pol) Arkea-Samsic
69 Aaron Verwilst (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise
70 Kévin Vauquelin (Fra) Arkea-Samsic
71 Cesare Benedetti (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe
72 Giovanni Bortoluzzi (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek
73 Stijn Daemen (Ned) Beat Cycling
74 Daniel Hoyos Largo (Col) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas
75 Daniel Martinez Poveda (Col) Ineos Grenadiers
76 Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Burgos-BH 0:11:53
77 Jose Herrada (Spa) Cofidis
78 Jose Felix Parra Cuerda (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma
79 Sander Armée (Bel) Cofidis
80 Mikel Nieve Iturralde (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
81 Unai Iribar Jauregi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
82 Gonzalo Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Movistar Team
83 Laurens Huys (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
84 Jokin Murguialday (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
85 Viktor Verschaeve (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:14:17
86 Anton Palzer (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
87 Jenthe Biermans (Bel) Israel Start-Up Nation
88 Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Israel Start-Up Nation
89 Thomas Champion (Fra) Cofidis
90 Albert Torres Barcelo (Spa) Movistar Team
91 Eddy Fine (Fra) Cofidis
92 Sander De Pestel (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise
93 Eduardo Sepulveda (Arg) Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli
94 Federico Burchio (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek
95 Emils Liepins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
96 Matthew Van Schoor (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team
97 Peio Goikoetxea Goiogana (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
98 Jacopo Mosca (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
99 Ivan Moreno Sanchez (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma
100 Eduard Prades Reverter (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
101 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’
102 Julen Irizar Laskurain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
103 Alejandro Ropero Molina (Spa) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team
104 Héctor Carretero (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma
105 Kamiel Bonneu (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise
106 Jan Polanc (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
107 Simone Ravanelli (Ita) Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli
108 Valentin Paret Peintre (Fra) AG2R Citroen Team 0:14:27
109 Lawrence Naesen (Bel) AG2R Citroen Team 0:14:30
110 Adrien Petit (Fra) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux 0:19:23
111 Gilles Borra (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team
112 Raul Rota Rus (Spa) Manuela Fundacion
113 Alessio Gasparini (Ita) Java Kiwi Atlantico
114 Daniel Viegas (Por) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team
115 Jochem Kerckhaert (Ned) Beat Cycling
116 Alessandro Bisolti (Ita) Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli
117 Arnaud De Lie (Bel) Lotto Soudal
118 Pablo Alonso Montes (Spa) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas
119 Eduardo Perez-Landaluce Gonzalez (Spa) Manuela Fundacion
120 Sven Burger (Ned) Beat Cycling
121 Julian Mertens (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise
122 Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
123 Christian Danilo Pase (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek
124 Riccardo Ricci (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek
125 Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) AG2R Citroen Team
126 Juan Diego Hoyos Cano (Col) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas
127 Romain Hardy (Fra) Arkea-Samsic
128 Damien Howson (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco
129 Jack Bauer (NZl) BikeExchange-Jayco
130 Dion Smith (NZl) BikeExchange-Jayco
131 Alexander Kamp (Den) Trek-Segafredo
132 Lorenzo Ginestra (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek
133 Riccardo Lucca (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek
134 Matteo Moschetti (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
135 André Domingues (Por) Burgos-BH
136 Barry Miller (USA) Java Kiwi Atlantico
137 Andreas Miltiadis (Cyp) Java Kiwi Atlantico
138 Vito Braet (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise
DNF Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirates
DNF Juan Sebastian Molano Benavides (Col) UAE Team Emirates
DNF Marco Haller (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe
DNF Luis-Joe Lührs (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
DNF Aurélien Paret Peintre (Fra) AG2R Citroen Team
DNF Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Lotto Soudal
DNF Matthew Holmes (GBr) Lotto Soudal
DNF Kamil Malecki (Pol) Lotto Soudal
DNS Michael Matthews (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco
DNF Sam Bewley (NZl) BikeExchange-Jayco
DNF Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
DNF Jon Aberasturi Izaga (Spa) Trek-Segafredo
DNF Alvaro Cuadros Morata (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
DNF Yesid Pira Parada (Col) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
DNF Davide Gabburo (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’
DNF Alessandro Santaromita Villa (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’
DNF Oscar Cabedo Carda (Spa) Burgos-BH
DNF Pelayo Sanchez Mayo (Spa) Burgos-BH
DNF Mario Aparicio Muñoz (Spa) Burgos-BH
DNF Sasha Weemaes (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise
DNF Vincent Hoppezak (Ned) Beat Cycling
DNF Yoeri Havik (Ned) Beat Cycling
DNF Bram Dissel (Ned) Beat Cycling
DNF Yentl Vandevelde (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team
DNF Jarne Van Dyck (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team
DNF Xavier Cañellas Sanchez (Spa) Java Kiwi Atlantico
DNF Tomoya Koyama (Jpn) Java Kiwi Atlantico
DNF Yuki Ishihara (Jpn) Java Kiwi Atlantico
DNF Louis Contal (Fra) Java Kiwi Atlantico
DNF Miguel Angel Ballesteros Canovas (Spa) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas
DNF Marcos Jurado Rodriguez (Spa) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas
DNF Joan Marti Bennassar Rossello (Spa) Manuela Fundacion
DNF Isaac Canton Serrano (Spa) Manuela Fundacion
DNF Vicente Hernaiz Santamaria (Spa) Manuela Fundacion
DNF Raul Colombo (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek