Challenge Mallorca 2023 (January 25-29)

[Samamba]

Lennert much more consistent. Not sure about three weeks, but he'll definitely be a player in your average Paris - Nice.

I wouldn't say more consistent, he's just way lighter and climbs way better. Wellens is probably a better rouleur and also better for flemish races (I never understood why he focussed on the Ardennes for so long).

If he ever will be a GT rider is obviously too early to tell, but after De Lie he's a 2nd gift from God for Lotto.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Never bet against the Circus freaks.

Almeida finishing 9th is quite good.

 

[Squire]

Great that we finally have a broadcast of the Mallorca challenge. These are some nice races.

 

[Samamba]

Great that we finally have a broadcast of the Mallorca challenge. These are some nice races.

They've always been really entertaining cause there isn't that much at stake.
A bit annoying that the weather was bad (next week is sunny and 16 degree there), but we still got to see some great racing.

 

[Faserr]

Great that we finally have a broadcast of the Mallorca challenge. These are some nice races.

You can watch the roads where a lot of european hobby cyclists train at TV. I really like that. Hopefully there will be normal weather next year.

 

[search]

Almeida finishing 9th is quite good.

his shape seems to be good enough to make those groups at least, which is somewhat promising. But same as yesterday, he should have worked for his team mates then instead of doing nothing and still finishing last of the group.

 

[armchairclimber]

I think the Circus boys must have been having 3 (or maybe 4) weatabix for breakfast. Impresive stuff.

 

[Salvarani]

Hard to judge the performances in these races... if it will mean a rider will go on to have a great season.

Feel like a lot of riders have been taking it easy or not wanted to risk anything here in these terrible conditions. Been few that has actually been wanting to race or dug deep to get a result each day.

 

[tobydawq]

Hard to judge the performances in these races... if it will mean a rider will go on to have a great season.

Feel like a lot of riders have been taking it easy or not wanted to risk anything here in these terrible conditions. Been few that has actually been wanting to race or dug deep to get a result each day.

Last year, Goossens was top 10 in three of the races but didn't do that much for the rest of the season.

There is, admittedly, a difference between three top 10s and two victories, though.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Hard to judge the performances in these races... if it will mean a rider will go on to have a great season.

Feel like a lot of riders have been taking it easy or not wanted to risk anything here in these terrible conditions. Been few that has actually been wanting to race or dug deep to get a result each day.

Exactly, look in the average season and the prolific guys at Mallorca challenge are no the best riders of the season.

They are winter training races for a lot of the big guys who attend. Plus with the cold, wet and icy weather small chance that guys like Alaphilippe, Masnada, Almida, Aranburu, meintjes, take risks.

Good races for guys like Goosens, Van eltvelt, bardiano guys etc who has a contract year, suits the races and won't get loads of chances in the world tour races.

 

[Samamba]

Exactly, look in the average season and the prolific guys at Mallorca challenge are no the best riders of the season.

They are winter training races for a lot of the big guys who attend. Plus with the cold, wet and icy weather small chance that guys like Alaphilippe, Masnada, Almida, Aranburu, meintjes, take risks.

Good races for guys like Goosens, Van eltvelt, bardiano guys etc who has a contract year, suits the races and won't get loads of chances in the world tour races.

Maybe, but let's not pretend like Valverde wasn't always strong here, De Lie won his first pro race here last year, McNulty was insane here already last year, ...

It has better riders at the start the last few years too.

I think the cold combined with rain/snow plays the biggest role here.

About Goossens, he did have a ton of bad luck after he was good in Mallorca last year, so that explains his results after. But yeah obviously he's already in better form than some of the big guns riding here. That plus really good in bad weather (pretty bad in hot weather btw) and being motivated.

 

[Ricco']

I think the Circus boys must have been having 3 (or maybe 4) weatabix for breakfast. Impresive stuff.

No way, they are for sure in a Chabrior and Pâturages nutrition plan.

 

[staubsauger]

Hopefully Mauro Vegni saw that today's s and yesterday's descent down the Puig Major were ridden and in fact nobody died!

 

[search]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmaC3S1-ROI


seems like Huys already lost track of all the Intermarché wins

 

[Salvarani]

Might be a pretty chaotic sprint with that 180 degrees turn 500m to go. Will be difficult to do a good lead-out for any team and it will be a fight for position.

 

[Squire]

Might be a pretty chaotic sprint with that 180 degrees turn 500m to go. Will be difficult to do a good lead-out for any team and it will be a fight for position.

Peloton looks quite racey and nervous, too. I'm a bit worried.

 

[Salvarani]

Bouhanni crashed.

 

[RedheadDane]

Vernon takes it.
Yet another podium for Intermarche.

 

[Salvarani]

Vernon wins!

Girmay second and De Lie third?

 

[tobydawq]

Vernon takes it.
Yet another podium for Intermarche.

Relatively solid week for Intermarché.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Vernon wins!

Girmay second and De Lie third?

De Lie is riding in France.

 

[tobydawq]

Vernon wins!

Girmay second and De Lie third?

Definitely not De Lie (you might see him later today).

 

[Salvarani]

Good effort from Ivan Garcia Cortina as well. Started his sprint early from further down. They passed him right at the end. He finished 4th-5th?

 

[Salvarani]

Definitely not De Lie (you might see him later today).

My bad... he was in Spain recently. I just assumed he was here.

It was probably Menten.

 

[search]

according to Lotto's Twitter it was van de Paar