Fist event of the European racing calendar

Spaniard to put end to seven-month recovery at trophies of the Balearic four-day Challenge (Thursday 25th - Sunday 28th)

Following their short training camp from last Sunday through Wednesday at the Rafa Nadal Sports Centre in the Balearic Islands, the Movistar Team will kick off their European season on Thursday with the 27th edition of the Challenge Mallorca, the traditional opener of the Spanish racing calendar.

The race, a series of four one-day, UCI 1.1 events, includes finishes for sprinters (Ses Salines, on Thursday 25th, and Palma, closing the race on Sunday 28th), as well as a hilly stage three (Andratx, Saturday 27th) and the demanding Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana, on Friday 26th.

The race’s highlight will be Alejandro Valverde‘s debut, after more than 200 days away from racing since he broke his leg on the opening time trial of the 2017 Tour de France. Alongside the marvel from Murcia -seven riders per day- will be Italian Daniele Bennati, Costa Rica’s Andrey Amador and Spaniards Carlos Barbero, José Joaquín Rojas, Imanol Erviti, Héctor Carretero, Jorge Arcas and Jaime Rosón, the latter making his first outing in Movistar Team colours.