Mallorca Challenge: Skujins wins Trofeo Andratx

Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo) pulled off a brilliant solo victory on the third day of racing in the Challenge Mallorca in the Trofeo Lloseta - Andratx. The 26-year-old Latvian put in a vicious counter-attack as his teammate Michael Gogl was caught, and soloed to victory over a group of top favourites.

Gregor Muhlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) escaped for second, well behind Skujins, with Elmar Reinders (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij) rounding out the podium.

It was the first win since last year's Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali for Skujins, who moved from Cannondale-Drapac to Trek-Segafredo this season.

"That was hard, much harder than expected", Skujins said after his victory. "I was in trouble a lot of times but in the end with the teamwork we had it was just incredible. The way we rode today it was really a pleasure to be wearing the Trek-Segafredo jersey. We never sat back, we were always up there for the action, and if it were not for Michael Gogl going on the attack for 60kms, we wouldn't have won today. We saw in the end when Gogl was still solo - we had 3 or 4 guys in the next group so all we had to do was follow the wheels, and that we could go on the offensive again when he was caught."

The lumpiest day of the Challenge Mallorca from Lloseta to Andratx would always be a difficult day, but wind and rain made conditions even more challenging for the peloton. With the first climb cresting 50km into the stage, it took an hour before the first breakaway could get away.

It wasn't for lack of trying; Brian Van Goethem (Roompot) attacked from the flag drop, then another group swept him up, making it five, but they too were reeled in as another group split off.

Van Goethem continued to be a player in the moves, as did Preben van Hecke (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) and Daniel Turek (Israel Cycling Academy), but as the first classified climb kicked up, the peloton came back together.

The descent shattered the peloton into several groups, as some riders were unwilling to take risks this early in the season. The peloton regrouped in the valley between the two major climbs, but it was just a momentary breather as attacks soon resumed.

A three-man breakaway went clear before the second climb, with Elie Gesbert (Fortuneo-Samsic), Daniel Turek (Israel Cycling Academy) and Preben Van Hecke (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) making the move. They carved out a gap of a couple minutes while the peloton collected itself, but by the top of the second KOM, the trio were back in its clutches.

Gogl was the next to go, and his advantage never reached much more than a minute on a shrinking peloton, but he persisted and was only caught with 6km to go.

His teammate Skujins launched a promising counterattack as Gogl was brought back, and despite a furious chase from Pim Ligthart (Roompot) and Lukas Postlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe), the Latvian extended his advantage.  

Tom Skujins gana el Trofeo Lloseta - Andratx!!! @TrekSegafredo
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