Challenge Mallorca 2023 (January 25-29)

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Samamba

Samamba

May 10, 2015
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DNP-Old said:
Lennert much more consistent. Not sure about three weeks, but he'll definitely be a player in your average Paris - Nice.
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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.
 
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Samamba

Samamba

May 10, 2015
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Squire said:
Great that we finally have a broadcast of the Mallorca challenge. These are some nice races.
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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.
 
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Faserr

Jun 22, 2009
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Squire said:
Great that we finally have a broadcast of the Mallorca challenge. These are some nice races.
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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.
 
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Salvarani

Oct 15, 2017
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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

tobydawq

Nov 16, 2013
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Salvarani said:
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.
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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.
 
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Ilmaestro99

Ilmaestro99

Apr 13, 2021
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Salvarani said:
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.
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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.
 
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Samamba

Samamba

May 10, 2015
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Ilmaestro99 said:
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.
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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.
 
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Salvarani

Oct 15, 2017
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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.
 
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Salvarani

Oct 15, 2017
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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?
 
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