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Challenge Mallorca 2023 (January 25-29)

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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.
 
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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