Challenge Mallorca 2024 (January 24-28)

[staubsauger]

Was Pelayo Sanchez caught out in one of the early splits? Because otherwise finishing 15.45 minutes down doesn't bod well for what should be his breakthrough season.

Sanchez has been good last year in Mallorca.

 

[Walter1234]

Van Eetvelt was behind the split on Sóller, you could say that Vlasov and McNulty shouldn't have waited for their teammates to recover and pull before attacking.

Indeed; some teams should thank Vansevenant/Soudal-QS for closing the gap.
I think indeed Vlasov and McNulty should have realized EF was not pulling hard enough. But then again; they could ride faster uphill if they could and wanted to drop LVE.

 

[Walter1234]

I lost my connection briefly.
What did I miss?

He complained about the final that was just downhill. Which he complained was too risky (so early in the season- I thought he said this). Where they could just as well put the finish uphill.

I think he was right to make this remark. But also the riders handeld this well and less or neutralized the race in the downhill.

 

[Lequack]

How many time can Vlasov come 2nd?

 

[Berniece]

How many time can Vlasov come 2nd?

Many many many more times

 

[Rob5091]

Vlasov though it a "foolish finish".
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...-de-tramuntana-what-a-foolish-finish-this-was

"What a foolish finish this was. Why do you let the race end in a descent? There really was no need for that," the Russian rider complained. However it wasn't just the sprint, but the entire final minutes of racing. "We didn't pedal the last five kilometers, because we didn't want to take any risks and commit suicide on the descent, but I don't understand why we didn't finish uphill. It really doesn't make any sense!"

Lenny VE thinks otherwise. He did his homework!
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...t-van-eetvelts-trofeo-serra-de-tramuntana-win

"I have to admit that I explored the final yesterday," he admits. "Last year I also had to sprint with a small group in the twentieth stage of the Vuelta and I only finished fourth. I didn't know the final and I didn't want to make that mistake now, so I did a reconnaissance so I knew how to approach things. That was a big advantage.” Van Eetvelt started the sprint in second place, and was faster than his two rivals in the final straight to take an impressive victory.

“I knew Vlasov and McNulty of course, they are very strong. But in a sprint with climbers I know I am not slow," he assures. "I'm often faster than other climbers, so I started my sprint with confidence. I am very happy that I was able to win against these two strong men."

 

[Samamba]

Was Pelayo Sanchez caught out in one of the early splits? Because otherwise finishing 15.45 minutes down doesn't bod well for what should be his breakthrough season.

Sanchez has been good last year in Mallorca.

He was in an early break with Herrada and Cattaneo, probably blew up his legs.

 

[Rob5091]

Well Saturday's race from Pollenca to Port d'Andratx (158.4 km) has a 12 km descent from the last climb to the finish which either is flat or goes up slightly depending if you look at the roadbook or elsewhere. Any who ... on google maps it looks pretty flat but who is first into the last right hander with 700 m to go will be in the fight for the win.

 

[ingsve]

Bit of an interesting race compared to today for example since the longest climbs are closer to the start it means riders will need to be very aggressive on the later climbs of the day if they want to split up the field or else there will be a much bigger group than 3 sprinting for the finish.

 

[RedheadDane]

How many time can Vlasov come 2nd?

In the Challenge Mallorca? Two.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Well Saturday's race from Pollenca to Port d'Andratx (158.4 km) has a 12 km descent from the last climb to the finish which either is flat or goes up slightly depending if you look at the roadbook or elsewhere. Any who ... on google maps it looks pretty flat but who is first into the last right hander with 700 m to go will be in the fight for the win.

Today will be good… Trofeo Anthrax (ehm, Andratx ) always delivers… Maybe the best of this week‘s five Mallorcan races…

 

[Netserk]

UAE led the peloton over Puig Major.

The advantage of the break is down to 1'20".

https://twitter.com/x/status/1751234990292017536

View: https://twitter.com/ChallengeMca/status/1751234990292017536

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Van Eetvelt and Simon Carr on the attack with Igor Arrieta, Ewen Costiou and Frederik Wandahl.
Ten seconds on the buch according to Procyclingstats, 1:09 behind the duo.

 

[Netserk]

Live images.

 

[DNP-Old]

Igor!

 

[Netserk]

Arrieta alone in front?

 

[Samamba]

Could be a sprint today, peloton is surprisingly big still.

EF with Van Den Berg, QS with Lamperti, Albanese, ARanburu, ...

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Nice to see a young talent who's actually a good descender, kind of become a rarity in recent years.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Could be a sprint today, peloton is surprisingly big still.

EF with Van Den Berg, QS with Lamperti, Albanese, ...

Albanese is supposedly ahead of the peloton.

 

[Netserk]

McNulty had a mechanical.

 

[Samamba]

Albanese is supposedly ahead of the peloton.

I think everything behind Arrieta is back together

 

[Netserk]

Movistar leads the peloton.

15" gap.

 

[DNP-Old]

15:10: Movistar to the front with four riders.
15:12 Movistar giving up the chase.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Aranburu down, that changes a lot.

 

[Samamba]

Aranburu down, now Movistar has to do something.