Challenge de Mallorca 2023 (1 Trofeo Calvia) [FULL RACE]

January 25, 2023

Challenge de Mallorca 2023 – Trofeo Calvia – Palmanova – Palmanova : 150,1 km

Challenge Mallorca is the name given to five distinct but related one-day races that take place on the Spanish island of Mallorca over a five-day period, often at the start of the season. As it usually takes place in late January, this event is often targeted by world-class pros looking to kick off their seasons with an early win. The event was first established back in 1992 and featured five one-day races over five days, although this was cut down to four in 2012 due to financial complications before being bumped back up to five in 2022. The organisers tend to market the event as a ‘Tour of Majorca’ despite the fact that it has never been classed as a multi-day stage race. There is an unofficial ‘overall’ winner crowned at the end of the series however, which goes to the rider who has completed the five courses in the least accumulated time.

Rui Costa said he had been inspired to switch to the Intermarché-Circus Wanty team after six years with UAE Team Emirates, and proved that he made the right choice by taking victory in the Trofeo Calvia on Wednesday.

The 2013 World Champion out-sprinted Louis Vervaeke (Soudal-Quickstep) and Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) after being on the attack for the final 33km of the 150.1 race.

Healy and Dutch champion Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto-Dstny) were the last survivors of the day’s breakaway on a cold and soggy slog through the hills around Palmanova, fortunately avoiding the rare snow that had fallen in the Sierra Tramuntana.

Riders took care to stay upright on the slick descents after Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates), who won the race last year, was one of the unfortunate fallers and did not finish. His team later reported that he had no serious injuries. The bunch took their time to catch the escapees, with Julian Alaphilippe and three teammates in the 10-rider chase.

On an uncategorized climb before the category 2 Coll de sa Gramola with 33km to go, Costa shot clear of the chasing group with Soudal-Quickstep’s Louis Vervaeke as the gap to the two leaders began to drop.

The situation remained the same over the top of the Gramola before the two chasers joined Healy and Eenkhoorn on the descent with 22km to go.

Disaster nearly struck for Costa on a roundabout where he almost missed the turn, but his compatriots waited for him to rejoin and, with just 17.5km to go they still had 38 seconds on chase group where Alaphilippe appeared to be controlling the pace.

Vervaeke launched his move with 16km to go as the road levelled off but he was brought back 3km later mainly by Healy as the chasers languished 50 seconds behind. The surge, however, succeeded in ejecting Eenkhoorn from the chase.

Vervaeke attacked the leaders for a second time with 10km to go but again, Costa and Healy reeled him back in. The chasing group, led by Alaphilippe, came within seconds of catching the three leaders.

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