Cycling: A professional cyclist can hardly have a better start to the season. John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) won the Trofeo Palma this afternoon. The 29-year-old was able to celebrate three days ago because he first act the Mallorca Challenge in Ses Salines.
Six breakaways and a hectic field
Year after year at the Grand Tours we experience that flat stages don't always have to be boring. Also today the spectators witnessed a quite interesting race. Initially, six drivers were able to break away from the peloton. Fabrizio Ferrari (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Txomin Juaristi (Euskadi), Enrico Logica (Biesse Carrera Gavardo), Victor Filutas (Pannon Cycling Team) Ibai Rooms (Burgos BH) and Julio Alberto Amores (Spain national team) should not have any realistic chances of success. As the peloton split in half, the sprint teams picked up the pace. Lotto Soudal in particular played a leading role in this division. However, after reuniting, the sextet was able to extend its lead again. But 30 kilometers from the finish, the ride was actually over for her.
Ganan distance de nuevo
Ferrari, Salas, Juaristi, Logica, Filutas y Amores.#ChallengeMallorca
Km69 2'30 la referencia ahora!
📹 @CyclingFriendly pic.twitter.com/F1bqSckiyB- ChallengeMallorca (@ChallengeMca) 28 January 2018
Degenkolb presents himself attentively and quickly
After catching up with the breakaways, the pace didn't slow down again. On the contrary: attempts to break away were prevented at an extremely high speed during the planning stage. This led to a renewed division of the field, which could no longer be undone. Trek-Segafredo presented himself very actively and attentively John Degenkolb. In the sprint of the first group, the German didn't give the competition a chance. Again he was on the right side of the road as fast as an arrow, caught the right moment and pulled up Eric Baska (Bora-hansgrohe) and Coen Vermeltfoort (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij) crossed the finish line. For Lotto Soudal, all the work didn't pay off. sprinter Jasper De Buyst only ended up in 18th place. Participation in the Mallorca Challenge was particularly worthwhile for the Trek-Segafredo team. With two wins by John Degenkolb and one by Tom's Skujins the team can be more than satisfied.
#ChallengeMallorca Segunda para @johndegenkolb !!!
The @TrekSegafredo go to the Trophy Playa de Palma – Palma!!!
📹 @CyclingFriendly Debut of @RafaVallsFerri with @Movistar_Team y @Julioa24 Se mete en una escapada.pic.twitter.com/TdwYTFzGfr— Julian Palomar Sanz (@PalomarJulian) 28 January 2018