Mallorca Challenge 26th - 30th of january 2022

[Ilmaestro99]

Kind of dirty sprint by Wellens . But I guess he was ahead coming out of the corner.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

It looks more like he was annoyed that Wellens was closing the door.

Perhaps, but it's difficult to see how much space there was. He clearly moved to the left at the start of the sprint, but I'm not sure he really closed Bala during the final meters.

 

[Wvv]

Wellens wins. Of course.
Valverde angry at the line tho, he was cut short in the sprint.

Jury taking a look at the images, winner is not decided yet.
Edit: jury talk is done, Wellens remains on top.

 

[Bonimenier]

Perhaps, but it's difficult to see how much space there was. He clearly moved to the left at the start of the sprint, but I'm not sure he really closed Bala during the final meters.

At the beginning of the images there is a right bend so pretty logical that he moves to the left of the road. Indeed not very clear how much further he moved after that. At first glance it doesn't look out of the ordinary.

 

[Netserk]

At the beginning of the images there is a right bend so pretty logical that he moves to the left of the road. Indeed not very clear how much further he moved after that. At first glance it doesn't look out of the ordinary.

Indeed. It was Valverde's responsibility to get the space needed, e.g. either getting on the other side of Wellens or getting ahead of him before the bend.

 

[SafeBet]

Dan Hoole 11th in a tough race.
So the big man can climb even at pro level.

 

[Earns1985]

Zwiehoff seems to have made another step forward this year. He was one of the first to attack today and he still came close to the front group in the end.

 

[Boes]

Wellens his first win of the season in preseason as per usual.
His next win will either be late vuelta (if Lotto is lucky) or the tour of Guangxi.

Classic Wellens

 

[RedheadDane]

Wellens his first win of the season in preseason as per usual.

How can he get his first win of the season in the preseason?

 

[Landeirovic]

Mcnulty look again strong. Maybe this year will be him year that he make a big step forward.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Dan Hoole 11th in a tough race.
So the big man can climb even at pro level.

And Felix Gall finished 10th, nice!

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

How can he get his first win of the season in the preseason?

It's like getting kicked out of the house but still allowed to sleep in the garage until you find a place.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Three races of Mallorca Challenge done: one win for the strongest team of the peloton (UAE), two wins for weaker WT teams (Wanty, Lotto Soudal). UAE‘s win certainly was not a surprise, Wanty and Lotto were surprises.

Good for Wanty and Lotto Soudal: these early wins take away some pressure. These teams already have had seasons when the first win didn‘t arrive before April or May.

 

[Samamba]

Three races of Mallorca Challenge done: one win for the strongest team of the peloton (UAE), two wins for weaker WT teams (Wanty, Lotto Soudal). UAE‘s win certainly was not a surprise, Wanty and Lotto were surprises.

Good for Wanty and Lotto Soudal: these early wins take away some pressure. These teams already have had seasons when the first win didn‘t arrive before April or May.

A Wellens win in Mallorca a surprise?
Also, LTS have won something in january or february (Mallorca, Bessege, UAE and/or Down Under) for the last 12 years...
Getting wins isn't their problem, getting UCI points is.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Agree… Only today, I noticed Wellens won this Tramuntana race now for four times… That‘s really strong… He probably likes this race just like McEwen loved Paris-Bruxelles…

 

[Terrefretter]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1487161571805732867

View: https://twitter.com/Cycling_Memes1/status/1487161571805732867?t=A-ttFICkpCbc8gTMrmofvw&s=19

 

[Samamba]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1487161571805732867

View: https://twitter.com/Cycling_Memes1/status/1487161571805732867?t=A-ttFICkpCbc8gTMrmofvw&s=19

He has won Vuelta stages, Giro stages, Eneco Tour twice, Tour de Pologne, Montreal. As far as I know those races were never in the first 3 months of the year. Underrated palmares.

 

[Bonimenier]

He has won Vuelta stages, Giro stages, Eneco Tour twice, Tour de Pologne, Montreal. As far as I know those races were never in the first 3 months of the year. Underrated palmares.

And in 2020 the season lasted 4 months and he took all his victories in the 4th month!

 

[Netserk]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1487161571805732867

View: https://twitter.com/Cycling_Memes1/status/1487161571805732867?t=A-ttFICkpCbc8gTMrmofvw&s=19

Wellens has only 1 win in March over his career, a stage win in Paris-Nice in 2016.

He's relatively at his best the time of the year when fewer are.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Dan Hoole 11th in a tough race.
So the big man can climb even at pro level.

Jesus that guy is a proper big lump

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Wellens has only 1 win in March over his career, a stage win in Paris-Nice in 2016.

He's relatively at his best the time of the year when fewer are.

That's because he's resting from his february dominance

 

[Wvv]

This one today. Curious if someone like Girmay can battle it out with with the likes of Valverde, Wellens, ...
Around 2,5 kilometres at 8,4 % will probably be too hard though. Think McNulty has a good chance again.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

This one today. Curious if someone like Girmay can battle it out with with the likes of Valverde, Wellens, ...
Around 2,5 kilometres at 8,4 % will probably be too hard though. Think McNulty has a good chance again.

I think the race and not least the finale is way too hard for Ghirmay. He's more of a sprinter than a puncheur I think.

 

[Earns1985]

I think the race and not least the finale is way too hard for Ghirmay. He's more of a sprinter than a puncheur I think.

Today two scenarios are imaginable.
1.) A group of 20-40 riders will arrive together at the final climb and the strongest riders in the peleton will battle it out.
2.) An earlier attack with World Tour team riders in it will make it to the end.

Second scenario happenend in 2020 for example with Soler, Mühlberger, Kämna, Villella in the earlier attack, which made it to the end.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I think the race and not least the finale is way too hard for Ghirmay. He's more of a sprinter than a puncheur I think.

I actually think he climbs quite well and see him more as a Sagan type than a flat sprinter. In Innsbruck he was also dropped late in the race, and in Leuven he got on the podium. He's definitely more versatile than most sprinters.