Report: Challenge Mallorca Race 2

21 year old Eritrean Biniam Girmay provided the first success of the season for Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, dominating a sprint of strong men on the Trofeo Alcudia (UCI 1.1, 27/01), the second one-day race of the Mallorca Challenge

Report: Challenge Mallorca Race 2

Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux Press Release

Trofeo Alcudia – Biniam Girmay wins Trofeo Alcudia — Eritrean Biniam Girmay provided the first success of the season for Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, dominating a sprint of strong men on the Trofeo Alcudia (UCI 1.1, 27/01), the second one-day race of the Mallorca Challenge. Girmay, 21, concluded the formidable teamwork of the men led by Aike Visbeek and Pieter Vanspeybrouck, who took responsibility for the race from the first kilometres.

The Belgian World Tour Team participated in the chase behind the morning breakaway of three riders, controlling a gap which peaked at almost five minutes. The difficult climb of Coll de Sa Batalla (8.7 km at 5%), located 50 kilometres from the finish, represented the main threat for a sprint finish. Surrounded by his teammates, Girmay managed to climb to the top with a heavily reduced peloton, accompanied by Loïc Vliegen.

Despite late attempts to avoid the sprint, a peloton of 46 sprinted it out for the honors in Port d’Alcudia, in the northeast of the island. The silver medallist in the U23 World championships, Girmay came up from the left, thanks to a powerful effort, to reach the line ahead of his opponents and offer the first victory of 2022 for the team on the second day of racing.

Tomorrow, the Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana will cross the eponymous mountain range on a particularly demanding 158 kilometer course, which features notably the Puig Major (14.6 km at 6%). Jan Bakelants, Kobe Goossens, Laurens Huys, Alexander Kristoff, Andrea Pasqualon and Kévin van Melsen will represent the team at the start in Lloseta.

Biniam Girmay Hailu: “I am overwhelmed by this victory and the euphoria of all members of the team! It’s really nice to start the season like this and to continue our fantastic winning spirit from last fall. I started the year with a lot of confidence, but it’s fantastic that I was able to beat some of the world’s best sprinters here in my second day of racing. Before that I had to survive the long climb in the final. I really suffered, but thanks to the help of my teammates with the positioning I was able to start the sprint with good legs. I am grateful for their support throughout the race, we are a really close group. And I also want to thank the staff. I like the courses and pleasant weather conditions here in Mallorca, it is the very first time I visit this beautiful island. I hope to keep the momentum going in my next races of the Mallorca Challenge this Saturday and Sunday!”

1. Biniam Girmay, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
2. Ryan Gibbons, UAE Team Emirates
3. Giacomo Nizzolo, Israel-Premier Tech
4. Ivan Garcia Movistar Team
5. Matis Louvel Team Arkéa-Samsic
6. Michael Matthews Team BikeExchange-Jayco

104. Thomas Armstrong, Electro Hiper Europa-Caldas
120. Matt Holmes, Lotto Soudal
136. Jack Bauer, Team BikeExchange-Jayco

Result Here: