Challenge de Mallorca 2022 (4 Trofeo Pollença-Port d’Andratx) – [Highlights]

January 29, 2021

Challenge de Mallorca 2021 – Trofeo Pollença-Port d’Andratx – Pollença – Port d’Andratx : 170,1 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.

Movistar veteran Alejandro Valverde sprinted to victory from a small group at the Trofeo Pollença-Port d’Andratx, beating Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) and Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) to the line atop the steep finishing ramp on the fourth day of the Challenge Mallorca.

The 41-year-old was the strongest on the climb to the finish in Andratx, utilising his famed sprint to take his first win of 2022 and the 131st of his career. The victory is his first at the Trofeo Pollença-Port d’Andratx, though it’s his sixth career triumph at the Challenge Mallorca, including two wins apiece at the Trofeo Sóller and the Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana.

Valverde’s Movistar team had been involved all day during what was another tough and hilly race on the island of Mallorca. The Spanish squad had controlled the peloton at several points during the day, while Enric Mas and Marc Soler also went on the attack.

After a late solo effort from Lotto Soudal’s Matthews Holmes was reeled in at the base of the final ramp to the line, the finish was contested among the big leaders from the WorldTour teams present at the race.

Valverde had the beating of them though, accelerating away on the final dig to the line and outsprinting McNulty as Vlasov finished three seconds back. Michael Matthews (BikeExchange-Jayco) took fourth at six seconds, while Felix Gall (AG2R Citroën) took fifth, 10 seconds back.

How it unfolded

The third day of the Challenge Mallorca took the peloton across the north of the Balearic island, from the village of Pollença in the far north to Andratx in the west as they tackled the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range along the way.

Five classified climbs dotted the route, the last of them coming with 70 kilometres to go, though there would be plenty of hills left to come in the latter part of the race, including the final ramp to the finish, which measured in at 2.5 kilometres with an average gradient of 8.4 per cent.

The main break of the day took some time to form, with a group not managing to get away from the peloton until the riders had 37 kilometres of racing under their belts. Eleven men managed to get away and quickly built up a three-minute advantage, though that would be the most they would enjoy during their time out front.

Xabier Isasa (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Samuele Rivi (Eolo-Kometa), Davide Gabburo, Samuele Zoccarato (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè), Mario Aparicio (Burgos-BH), Ruben Apers, Kamil Bonneu (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Kasper Saver (Minerva Cycling), Pablo Alonso (Electro Hiper Europa-Caldas), Raúl Rota (Manuela Funación Continental), Christian Danilo Pase (Work Service Vitalcare Vega) were the men in question.

The move would only last for 55 kilometres of the 170.1-km race, at which point Soler made his move on a climb shortly after the town of Sóller. The attack didn’t stick with 80 kilometres still to race, but did draw out more counterattacks, with Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) among those trying a move.

More attacks followed, with Holmes making it away with 70km to go. The Briton was joined by Jan Bakelants (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) and Antonio Soto (Euskaltel-Euskadi), and the trio built an advantage of 20 seconds up and over the Coll den Claret before being caught at 53km to go.

Movistar were in control of the peloton at that point along with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert, and it was no surprise to see them active again as the riders raced towards the finale. Mas made a move on the Coll de Sa Gramola with 30km to go, drawing out more attackers and helping to whittle down the already small peloton.

With 20km to go, only around 40 riders were left in front, though their number would soon dwindle further as Holmes tried his luck once again. He was solo this time, though, but even given the low likelihood of him staying away to the line, he persevered.

Holmes had a 10-second advantage as he passed the 10km to go mark, and five kilometres later the number remained the same. With the final climb approaching, though, his time out front was soon to run out and so it proved as he was caught at the base.

The small lead group only got smaller on the way up, with first Mas, then Einer Rubio and Iván Sosa doing the job on the front for team leader Valverde. He was joined by McNulty, Vlasov, Gall, Matthews, Wellens, Simon Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) and Kobe Goossens (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) near the top, and proved the strongest on the final dash to line to claim victory.

Results :
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 4:14:50
2 Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates
3 Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Bora – Hansgrohe 0:00:03
4 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team BikeExchange – Jayco 0:00:06
5 Felix Gall (Aut) Ag2R Citroën Team 0:00:10
6 Simon Clarke (Aus)
7 Elie Gesbert (Fra) Team Arkea – Samsic
8 Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:00:13
9 Kobe Goossens (Bel) Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux 0:00:19
10 Simon Geschke (Ger) Cofidis 0:00:28
11 Ivan Ramiro Sosa Cuervo (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:29
12 Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:32
13 Mikel Bizkarra Etxegibel (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:00:35
14 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Arkea – Samsic 0:00:39
15 Davide Villella (Ita) Cofidis
16 Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora – Hansgrohe
17 Einer Augusto Rubio Reyes (Col) Movistar Team
18 Nans Peters (Fra) Ag2R Citroën Team 0:00:47
19 Biniam Girmay (Eri) Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux
20 Jose Felix Parra Cuerda (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma
21 Miguel Eduardo Florez Lopez (Col) Team Arkea – Samsic 0:00:52
22 Gotzon Martin Sanz (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:00:56
23 Filippo Zana (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’
24 James Piccoli (Can) Israel – Premier Tech
25 Andreas Kron (Den) Lotto Soudal 0:00:58
26 Simon Pellaud (Swi) Trek – Segafredo
27 Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:01:02
28 Eduardo Sepulveda (Arg) Drone Hopper – Androni Giocattoli 0:01:09
29 Simon Guglielmi (Fra) Team Arkea – Samsic 0:01:28
30 Lukasz Owsian (Pol) Team Arkea – Samsic 0:01:36
31 Urko Berrade Fernandez (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma 0:01:39
32 Jan Bakelants (Bel) Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux 0:01:51
33 Hector Carretero (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma 0:01:53
34 Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team 0:02:02
35 Loïc Vliegen (Bel) Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux 0:02:09
36 Valentin Paret Peintre (Fra) Ag2R Citroën Team 0:02:39
37 Matthew Holmes (GBr) Lotto Soudal 0:03:24
38 Harm Vanhoucke (Bel) Lotto Soudal 0:04:18
39 Frederik Wandahl (Den) Bora – Hansgrohe 0:04:43
40 Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora – Hansgrohe
41 Marc Soler (Spa) Uae Team Emirates 0:06:20
42 Jose Herrada (Spa) Cofidis 0:06:29
43 Simone Ravanelli (Ita) Drone Hopper – Androni Giocattoli
44 Sergio Roman Martin Galan (Spa) Caja Rural-seguros Rga
45 Jens Schuermans (Bel) Beat Cycling
46 Pelayo Sanchez Mayo (Spa) Burgos-BH
47 Jaakko Hänninen (Fin) Ag2R Citroën Team
48 Igor Arrieta Lizarraga (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma
49 Davide Bais (Ita) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team
50 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team
51 Mikel Nieve Iturralde (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:06:38
52 Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Trek – Segafredo 0:06:44
53 Omer Goldstein (Isr) Israel – Premier Tech
54 Sergio Araiz Michel (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma
55 Christopher Jensen (Den) Team BikeExchange – Jayco
56 Julen Amezqueta Moreno (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:06:53
57 Jon Agirre Egaña (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma 0:06:58
58 Robbe Ghys (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
59 Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Team Arkea – Samsic 0:07:11
60 Jonathan Lastra Martinez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
61 Jesus Herrada (Spa) Cofidis 0:07:18
62 Jacopo Mosca (Ita) Trek – Segafredo 0:08:25
63 Andres Camilo Ardila Ordoñez (Col) Uae Team Emirates 0:07:59
64 Antonio Jesus Soto Guirao (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:08:40
65 Umberto Marengo (Ita) Drone Hopper – Androni Giocattoli 0:09:59
66 Luis Guillermo Mas Bonet (Spa) Movistar Team 0:11:20
67 Diego Pablo Sevilla Lopez (Spa) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team
68 Nils Politt (Ger) Bora – Hansgrohe 0:11:28
69 Abner Santiago Umba Lopez (Col) Drone Hopper – Androni Giocattoli 0:11:56
70 Damien Howson (Aus) Team BikeExchange – Jayco 0:12:16
71 Laurens Huys (Bel) Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux 0:12:50
72 Thibaut Ponsaerts (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team 0:17:28
73 Mateu Estelrich Cabanellas (Spa) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas
74 Miguel Angel Ballesteros Canovas (Spa) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas
75 Milan Fretin (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
76 Matthew Van Schoor (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team
77 Anton Palzer (Ger) Bora – Hansgrohe
78 Daniel Hoyos Largo (Col) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas
79 Kamiel Bonneu (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
80 RICARDO Zurita (Ven)
81 Yesid Pira Parada (Col) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
82 Barnabás Peák (Hun) Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux
83 Julian Mertens (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
84 André Carvalho (Por) Cofidis
85 Thomas Champion (Fra) Cofidis
86 Jordy Bouts (Bel) Beat Cycling
87 Kamil Malecki (Pol) Lotto Soudal
88 Luca Covili (Ita) Bardiani csf Faizane’
89 Luis-Joe Lührs (Ger) Bora – Hansgrohe
90 Aaron Verwilst (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
91 Lorenzo Ginestra (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek
92 Diego Rosa (Ita) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team
93 Alejandro Ropero Molina (Spa) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team
94 Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Israel – Premier Tech
95 Davide Gabburo (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’
96 Ander Okamika Bengoetxea (Spa) Burgos-BH
97 Barry Miller (USA) Java Kiwi Atlantico
98 Gaizka Gurrutxaga Etxeberria (Spa) Java Kiwi Atlantico
99 Thomas Armstrong (GBr) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas
100 Adria Moreno Sala (Spa) Burgos-BH
101 Andreas Miltiadis (Cyp) Java Kiwi Atlantico
102 Sander Armee (Bel) Cofidis
103 Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux 0:17:33
104 Iker Ballarin Manso (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:17:35
105 Edoardo Zardini (Ita) Drone Hopper – Androni Giocattoli
106 Robbe Van Praet (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team
107 Viktor Verschaeve (Bel) Lotto Soudal
108 Kasper Saver (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team 0:17:43
109 Ruben Apers (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise
110 Michal Schlegel (Cze) Caja Rural-seguros RGA
111 Mario Aparicio Muñoz (Spa) Burgos-BH 0:17:44
112 Ivan Moreno Sanchez (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma
113 Jack Bauer (NZl) Team BikeExchange – Jayco
114 Jan Polanc (Slo) Uae Team Emirates 0:17:48
115 Marcos Jurado Rodriguez (Spa) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas 0:17:56
116 Thomas Joseph (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team 0:18:03
117 Alexander Kamp (Den) Trek – Segafredo
118 Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) Ag2R Citroën Team
119 Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani csf Faizane’ 0:18:07
120 Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Burgos-BH 0:18:18
121 Jokin Murguialday (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 0:18:20
122 Xabier Isasa Larrañaga (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
123 Xabier Mikel Azparren Irurzun (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
124 Harrison Sweeny (Aus) Lotto Soudal 0:18:23
125 Edwin Yair Torres (Ven) Java Kiwi Atlantico 0:18:35
126 Juan Diego Hoyos Cano (Col) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas 0:18:38
127 Kevin Colleoni (Ita) Team BikeExchange – Jayco 0:18:49
128 Samuele Rivi (Ita) Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team
129 Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Movistar Team
130 Stijn Daemen (Ned) Beat Cycling 0:19:02
131 Raul Rota Rus (Spa) Manuela Fundacion 0:19:19
132 Sander De Pestel (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise 0:19:30
DNF Gonzalo Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Movistar Team
DNF Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Uae Team Emirates
DNF Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Uae Team Emirates
DNS Juan Sebastian Molano Benavides (Col) Uae Team Emirates
DNS Aurélien Paret Peintre (Fra) AG2R Citroën Team
DNF Sebastian Berwick (Aus) Israel – Premier Tech
DNF Ben Hermans (Bel) Israel – Premier Tech
DNF Guy Niv (Isr) Israel – Premier Tech
DNF Samuel Bewley (NZl) Team BikeExchange – Jayco
DNF Dion Smith (NZl) Team BikeExchange – Jayco
DNS Jakob Egholm (Den) Trek – Segafredo
DNF Daan Hoole (Ned) Trek – Segafredo
DNF Omar El Gouzi (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’
DNF Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’
DNF Samuele Zoccarato (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’
DNF Oscar Cabedo Carda (Spa) Burgos-BH
DNF André Domingues (Por) Burgos-BH
DNF Alessandro Bisolti (Ita) Drone Hopper – Androni Giocattoli
DNF Jente Boons (Bel) Beat Cycling
DNF Sven Burger (Ned) Beat Cycling
DNF Jochem Kerckhaert (Ned) Beat Cycling
DNF Bram Dissel (Ned) Beat Cycling
DNF Jorre Debaele (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team
DNF Thimo Willems (Bel) Minerva Cycling Team
DNF Xavier Cañellas Sanchez (Spa) Java Kiwi Atlantico
DNS Alessio Gasparini (Ita) Java Kiwi Atlantico
DNF Nikiforos Arvanitou (Gre) Java Kiwi Atlantico
DNF Pablo Alonso Montes (Spa) Electro Hiper Europa – Caldas
DNF Vicente Hernaiz Santamaria (Spa) Manuela Fundacion
DNF Daniel Jimenez Martinez (Spa) Manuela Fundacion
DNF Erik Martorell Haga (Spa)
DNF Eduardo Perez-landaluce Gonzalez (Spa) Manuela Fundacion
DNF Miquel Valls Alemany (Spa) Manuela Fundacion
DNF Giovanni Bortoluzzi (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek
DNF Riccardo Carretta (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek
DNF Filippo Dignani (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek
DNS Christian Danilo Pase (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek
DNF Eric Paties Montagner (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek
DNF Riccardo Ricci (Ita) Work Service – Vitalcare – Dynatek