Full-speed debut for Movistar Team on European soil
30 January 2020

Moschetti (TFS) wins Challenge's first bunch sprint before Blues take on most demanding trophies, starting on Friday; Enric Mas to join Valverde and Soler in his debut, after first outings for Torres & Villella today.

It was a resounding victory for Italian Matteo Moschetti (TFS) -ahead of Pascal Ackermann (BOH, 2nd) and Jon Aberasturi (CJR, 3rd)- at the Trofeo Ses Salines – Felanitx, first round of the 2020 Challenge Mallorca (UCI 1.1 x4), over 170km which marked the first racing day for the Movistar Team on European soil this season.

Alejandro Valverde completed today the first race of his 18th pro season. (c) Photo Gomez Sport

The roster directed on Spanish soil by Chente García Acosta and Pablo Lastras featured two debutants in Blue colours: Albert Torres, racing at home alongside Lluís Mas -a Ses Salines native, who didn’t want to miss the race despite finishing the Tour Down Under only last Sunday-, and Davide Villella. The Telefónica-backed squad, led by Alejandro Valverde and Marc Soler, only had to regret a crash by Héctor Carretero with under 25km remaining, with no significant injuries.

Davide Villella, uno de los estrenos, en la salida de Ses Salines. (c) Photo Gomez Sport

The third of the Balearic riders, Enric Mas, will show up on Friday’s Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana (160.5km), over a tough profile finishing with the ‘colls’ of Femenies (Cat-2), Puigmajor (Cat-2) and Bleda (Cat-2) just before the last kick uphill in Deià. Valverde, Soler, Carretero, Rojas and Pedrero will be joining Mas at the start, together with another debutant: Dario Cataldo.

Cover picture (c): Photo Gomez Sport