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Gallery: On the startline of the Mallorca Challenge

Sprinters set up for opening stage

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Peter Kennaugh and Ben Swift (Team Sky)

Peter Kennaugh and Ben Swift (Team Sky)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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The Lampre Merida bikes at the start

The Lampre Merida bikes at the start
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Dario Cataldo (Team Sky)

Dario Cataldo (Team Sky)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)

Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Omega Pharma Quickstep on the startline

Omega Pharma Quickstep on the startline
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma Quickstep)

Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma Quickstep)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Ben King (Garmin-Sharp) came from San Luis to Mallorca

Ben King (Garmin-Sharp) came from San Luis to Mallorca
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Wegmann and Millar at the start in Palma.

Wegmann and Millar at the start in Palma.
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Garmin's Nick Nuyens at the start in Palma, Mallorca

Garmin's Nick Nuyens at the start in Palma, Mallorca
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Nick Nuyens (Garmin-Sharp) is looking for get in shape

Nick Nuyens (Garmin-Sharp) is looking for get in shape
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Jurgen van den Broeck is making his European debut in Mallorca

Jurgen van den Broeck is making his European debut in Mallorca
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Arashiro (Europcar) looks relaxed before the start of the race

Arashiro (Europcar) looks relaxed before the start of the race
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Locals stage a protest at the start with a local Coca Cola factory set to close

Locals stage a protest at the start with a local Coca Cola factory set to close
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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The Cofidis team line up on the seafront in Palma, Mallorca

The Cofidis team line up on the seafront in Palma, Mallorca
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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New signing Esteban Chaves (Orica GreenEDGE)

New signing Esteban Chaves (Orica GreenEDGE)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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David Millar (Garmin Sharp) opens his season in Mallorca

David Millar (Garmin Sharp) opens his season in Mallorca
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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The Team Sky Pinarello bikes

The Team Sky Pinarello bikes
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Wiggins' Pinarello has a few special decals

Wiggins' Pinarello has a few special decals
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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The Cofidis bikes on show

The Cofidis bikes on show
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Caleb Fairly (Garmin Sharp)

Caleb Fairly (Garmin Sharp)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky)

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Former Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky)

Former Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) enjoys taking time out for the fans

Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) enjoys taking time out for the fans
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Alex Howes (Garmin-Sharp)

Alex Howes (Garmin-Sharp)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana)

Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Tanel Kangert (Astana)

Tanel Kangert (Astana)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Former teammates Fabian Wegmann and Linus Gerdermann catch up at the start

Former teammates Fabian Wegmann and Linus Gerdermann catch up at the start
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)

Blue skies and relatively warm weather greeted the peloton at the start of the Spanish road season on Saturday at the Mallorca Challenge. The four day event kicks off with a glorified criterium through the streets of Palma, with long, flat roads ideally suited to the sprinters of the peloton.

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Made up of riders starting a race for the first time this season - Bradley Wiggins (Team) and Chris Horner (Lampre Merida – and riders who have made the trip from last month’s Tour de San Luis, the Mallorca Challenge differs from most stage races on the calendar in that it allows riders to start or skip stages. They have to start and finish all four in order to qualify for the right to challenge for the overall but with excellent training terrain on the island a number of riders chose to skip today’s criterium.

Among them were Horner and Wiggins. The American only recently signed with Lampre and chose to head into the island’s mountains after appearing briefly at the team’s presentation prior to the start of the criterium.

Click here for the gallery.