Challenge Mallorca Jan 29 - Feb 01, 2015

[Bushman]

Yes, but Valverde was the one that pulled the whole time, Pozzovivo only stayed on his wheel, it was the smart thing to do but in the end he was swallowed by the rest.

Lol no he didn't. Of course Valverde has more power on the flat and he's also a waaaay better sprinter so naturally he pulled the must for the last couple of k's. It's not like Pozzovivo sat on Valverde's wheel for 20 k straight.

 

[jaylew]

He seems to value all podium spots equally. Could be Bauke or Leopold's day. Or even good for sprinters like Rojas and Swift.

He heard you. Great win by Valverde!

 

[Ruudz0r]

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7UtZXNFB_A&feature=youtu.be

 

[Tank Engine]

Or even good for sprinters like Rojas and Swift.

Just an average day for Roj4s

 

[slosada]

p?rez k?nig mu?oz

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Last race of the series:

Startlist: http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjYzMzY=

Probably too much bunch sprint interest to really make this interesting until the final few kms, so Greipel FTW.

Start around 10am, finishes 2pm or so (CET).

 

[Kwibus]

Wow if only we had race days like this in the TdF....

Amazing Bala!

Ofcourse I know why we don't have race days like this in the TdF, but just imagine...

 

[Angliru]

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7UtZXNFB_A&feature=youtu.be

Thanks for the link! Valverde quite impressive and as many mentioned earlier Kudus shows great promise. I look forward to watching his career progress.

 

[MatParker117]

Pelucchi again!

 

[MatParker117]

Pelucchi
Viviani
Greipel

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Result has been corrected:

Pelucchi
Greipel
Swift

Damn impressive by the Italian. Hopefully he can develop on that and perhaps perform in some the cobbles races.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Almost up to his previous CQ best already

Some decent sprinters far from the top there - Rojas 13th, Bouhanni 16th. Seems like it might have been a bit more complex than expected. Always good to see Matteo get a win though.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Fifth year in a row that some 2nd or 3rd tier sprinter gets two wins in Mallorca. It's a tradition now.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

But Pelucchi will have his break through year and become a 1st tier sprinter

 

[May0maniac]

Fifth year in a row that some 2nd or 3rd tier sprinter gets two wins in Mallorca. It's a tradition now.

Yes, but this year they had a pretty god sprinters field.

 

[RedheadDane]

Top 10 to Cult!

 

[hayzer114]

Good result by Sam Bennett coming 4th today. Had a number of good wins last year and its looks as if Bora are going to back him this year and provide him with a sprint train. I think the guy has a lot of potential. Not on the same level as Kittel/Cav/Greipel yet but I don't think he is far from Bouhanni, Degenkolb, Matthews, Nizzolo, Demare.

Any thoughts??

 

[Dr. Juice]

It will be the breakthrough year of Pelucchi. He just turned 26. Petacchi started to win at 26 but only started to dominate at age 29. Impressive wins, seemed easy against 70% of world class sprinters who were present.

He showed some talent a couple of years ago, now he has found the winning formula.
First bigger win will be at Tirreno or Paris- Nice.

EDIT: He won at Tirreno last year. This year he will be win on a more consistent basis and if he goes to the Giro, he'll win 2-3 stages.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Good result by Sam Bennett coming 4th today. Had a number of good wins last year and its looks as if Bora are going to back him this year and provide him with a sprint train. I think the guy has a lot of potential. Not on the same level as Kittel/Cav/Greipel yet but I don't think he is far from Bouhanni, Degenkolb, Matthews, Nizzolo, Demare.

Any thoughts??

This is a pretty diverse group imo.

Degenkolb is primarily a hardman sprinter (similar to Kristoff), Matthews seems great in some uphill terrain and Bouhanni has already clocked up 30 pro wins aged 24. Demare seems very versatile, but hasn't delivered on the biggest scene yet imo.

So when you compare Bennett with this group are we talking simple flat stages?

 

[Arredondo]

Fifth year in a row that some 2nd or 3rd tier sprinter gets two wins in Mallorca. It's a tradition now.

Pelucchi isn't a 2nd or 3rd sprinter, but a highly irregular sprinter. He's got the speed of a great sprinter, he belongs to the 10 fastests sprinters in the world.

But in 70/80% of the time, he even doesn't enter in a good position to really sprint. But i think this year he will progress.

 

[hayzer114]

This is a pretty diverse group imo.

Degenkolb is primarily a hardman sprinter (similar to Kristoff), Matthews seems great in some uphill terrain and Bouhanni has already clocked up 30 pro wins aged 24. Demare seems very versatile, but hasn't delivered on the biggest scene yet imo.

So when you compare Bennett with this group are we talking simple flat stages?

I would probably put Bennett in the Degenkolb / Matthews category. As seen in the Tour of Britain in 2013 he can compete in an uphill sprint. Having been at the Dublin stage in the Giro last year the finish was slightly uphill, it was the type of finish he could really have gone well in had he been there. Ultimately had he been there he wouldn't have beaten Kittel.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I would probably put Bennett in the Degenkolb / Matthews category. As seen in the Tour of Britain in 2013 he can compete in an uphill sprint. Having been at the Dublin stage in the Giro last year the finish was slightly uphill, it was the type of finish he could really have gone well in had he been there. Ultimately had he been there he wouldn't have beaten Kittel.

He is very light by the standards of bunch sprinters. 68/69 kgs, which is less than Cavendish (who is a good bit shorter).

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Highlights from last race day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuzUvSUtw8w

Controlled, processional until the bunch sprint. Move 16 minutes in to avoid wasting time.