Trofeo Palma

Spaniard boxed into the sprint, unable to contest first trophy in the Mallorca Challenge; Modolo (LAM) wins

Palma’s Passeig Marítim was again the scene this year for the start of the cycling season in Spain. The 116-kilometer homonimous trophy which opened the Challenge Ciclista Mallorca went with no troubles for the Movistar Team, which witnessed the debut in Blue for three of their riders: Jasha Sütterlin, Dayer Quintana -his very first day within the pros- and Gorka Izagirre, the older of a saga whose younger member Ion already wore the telephone squad’s colours in Dubai.

Conscious of their sprinter Fran Ventoso’s chances -he was 2nd in one of the Tour de San Luis’s mass sprints-, the riders directed by José Luis Jaimerena worked hand in hand with Lampre to keep under control the only five-man breakaway allowed to go away in a tremendously fast course. However, the Spaniard got boxed in during the final approach and couldn’t contest the win, claimed by Sacha Modolo (LAM) in front of Jens Debusschere (LTB) and youngster Dylan Groenewegen (RIJ), who initially raised his arms victorious but was called 3rd after the photo finish.

Ventoso will have a chance to bounce back from misfortune on Monday during the Trofeo Ses Salines, 182km with two small, Cat. 3 climbs -the latter one, Santanyí, less than 7k from the end- and a twisty, narrow final section.