Mallorca Challenge: Greipel wins bunch sprint in Palma

André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) claimed his second victory of the week at the Mallorca Challenge, in the Trofeo Playa de Palma - Palma. The previous two days have not been for the fast-men but the German ensured he showed his sprint supremacy with an clear win. Greipel took the honours from a bunch sprint in the Mallorcan capital of Palma, ahead of Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) and Dylan Page (Team Roth).

Greipel began his season in the same manner at Trofeo Felanitx - Ses Salines - Campos – Porreres on Thursday when he beat Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18) to the line. It is the second season in a row that he has decided to open his year on the Spanish island rather than outside of Europe. It was a move that would prove fruitful for him and he would go on to take four stage wins at the Tour de France later in the season.

The day was marked by a three-man break that escaped down the road early on. Omar Fraile, who is making his Dimension Data debut in Mallorca, lit the fire for the break when he shot down the road on his own. Fellow Spaniards Luis Mas Bonet (Caja-Rural) and Imanol Estevez (Euskadi) were soon to join him in the lead and the forged a seven-minute gap. Despite a climb at the 115km mark, the flat circuit finish made it a perfect day for the sprinters and it was Lotto-Soudal and Bora-Argon 18 that took control on the front of the bunch.

The break stood little chance, and with 30 kilometres still to run their day in the limelight was over. Sending a message to their WorldTour rivals, Lotto-Soudal set Greipel up with almost perfect lead-out to deliver him to the line.

Greipel is set to head to Portugal next for Volta ao Algarve on February 17.

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