Team News: Degenkolb wins first day of Challenge Mallorca

John Degenkolb opened his season with a victory, sprinting to the win in the first day of the Challenge Cyclista Mallorca from Campos to Ses Salines.

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

Degenkolb wins first day of Challenge Mallorca

John Degenkolb opened his season with a victory, sprinting to the win in the first day of the Challenge Cyclista Mallorca from Campos to Ses Salines.

Trek-Segafredo surrounded Degenkolb with a team of Classics and lead-out specialists for the 178-kilometer race, giving the German sprinter the support he needed for a much-needed win with his last almost a year ago in the Dubai Tour. “It’s a great feeling to get the first victory already, to achieve this together with the team,” Degenkolb explained to journalists shortly after the finish. “We had a really nice week of training already this week in Mallorca, in the training camp, and to start the season like this with a win is always great.

“I felt really good; the team did a perfect job to make a good sprint for me. I have good memories of this race because for me this was my first professional race in 2011. Today was a great revival.” It is the second victory for Trek-Segafredo this season, coming two days after Ryan Mullen’s win in stage three of Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina, giving the team an early boost as they start their first year without a headlining star like Fabian Cancellara or Alberto Contador.
… continued after advert

2016_ShuttVeloRapideAdvert

“We have already won two races as a team, and I think for the whole team it’s a big relief to start the season like this,” continued Degenkolb. “Everyone knows we have done our homework, what’s needed to win races, and I think we can be very optimistic for the next races.”

There is no secret that Degenkolb has had his share of misfortune in the last few years, from his horrific training accident in 2016 to respiratory issues at the end of 2017 severe enough to hospitalize him. His respiratory problems forced him out of the Vuelta a España, the Tour of Denmark, and caused him to forego the World Championships in Bergen, Norway, where he would have led the German team as one of the race favorites.
… continued after advert

2016_ShuttVeloRapideAdvert

“It’s a fantastic feeling! I have worked really hard this winter, and after all what has happened at the end of last year, this is such a big relief to get this winning feeling back and know that I am still able to win races because it’s quite a long time since I crossed the finish line in first position,” exclaimed a happy Degenkolb. “For me, it’s just very amazing to feel that, and to also to feel the whole support from the riders: The whole team for the whole winter was behind me and pushed me to come to this level again.”

The Challenge Mallorca is a series of one-day races that runs from Thursday to Sunday.

Trek-Segafredo will start the following seven riders for Friday and Saturday: Bauke Mollema, Gianluca Brambilla, Tsgabu Grmay, Toms Skujins, Julien Bernard, Michael Gogl, and Nicola Conci.

AlpsCyclesMidstory

 

Cycle Division’s New Shop

Send your results as well as club, team & event news here

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

Other News on VeloUK

Tags: