Challenge: Trofeo Playa de Palma - Palma
Pedrero debuts as Valverde enters final splits in final day through the Balearic islands. Blues back in competition for Valencia and Dubai from Wednesday
The 25th Challenge Ciclista Mallorca was officially over on Sunday as André Greipel (LTS) took his second sprint victory at the 161.5km Trofeo Playa de Palma – Palma. However, the finish along the coast of the Balearic capital was close to seeing a much smaller bunch contesting the win than in previous times.
The Movistar Team, which had Antonio Pedrero making his first outing in Blue colours today, made a front group of fifteen riders with Alejandro Valverde after the ascent of Sa Creu (Cat-3), later staying at the front when crosswinds split the bunch into two. With no sprinters into their ranks, the telephone squad remained content by finishing safely into a compact, bigger bunch at the end.
The Spanish squad will now divide into two on their journey back, some of their members going to the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana while others fly to the Dubai Tour, their first two competitions in February starting on Wednesday.