Irish rider Sam Bennett (Bora Argon 18) is set to get his season underway this week in the Challenge Ciclista Mallorca, which is the opening European race of the season.
The race which starts tomorrow has an unusual format whereby riders can pick and choose which events over the four days that they will take part in.
The four stages which are each UCI 1.1. are as follows:
Trofeo Felanitx – Ses Salines – Campos – Porreres
Trofeo Pollenca-Port de Andratx
Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana
Trofeo Playa de Palma – Palma
Bennett will be hopeful of getting his season off to a good start and tomorrow’s race may offer him a good chance. Last year, Matteo Pelucchi took the honours in a sprint finish with Bennett finishing in 10th place.
On Friday, the riders will face 162 kilometres from Pollenca to Port de Andratx on the Western side of the island and will be more suited to the climbers.
Saturday’s Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana takes place over 149.9 kilometres, again on the West. Last year, it was won by Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and the Spaniard will again start his season on Mallorca.
The final race on Sunday, the Trofeo Playa de Palma will again suit the sprinters. Bennett just missed out on a podium spot last year, finishing fourth with Pelucchi again taking the win.
Amongst the other big name sprinters taking part are André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) and Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis).
Bennett’s Directeur Sportif Enrico Poitschke feels that the Irish rider is in good form. “The training camp went well and Sam is feeling good, so we expect something good to come. But we have to take into account that with Rudiger Selig we have a new rider in our lead-out train, so it will be the first test if the guys work well together.”
A number of other Irish riders are also set to line up in the Mallorcan race with Ryan Mullen (Cannondale Pro Cycling Team), Matt Brammeier (Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka) and Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) all listed on their team’s line-ups.
