Mallorca Challenge: Degenkolb wins Trofeo Palma

John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) sprinted to victory in the Trofeo Palma on Sunday to make it two wins from two at the Challenge Mallorca series and a perfect start to the 2018 season. 

The German, who had triumphed on Thursday in the Trofeo Campos-Porreres-Felanitx-Ses Salines, was again convincing winner in a bunch sprint in Palma, where Erik Baska (Bora-Hansgrohe) finished second and Coen Vermeltfoort (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij) third. 

Degenkolb chose to sit out Friday and Saturday's hillier outings at the Mallorca Challenge and therefore has two victories from the two races he's started this year. For the Trek-Segafredo team as a whole it has been a successful week and start to the season, with new signing Toms Skujins winning on Saturday to ensure they leave with three of the four 'Trofeos' in the bag. 

"I am so happy. I think it's the first time I have won the first two races in a season, that's a first for me," said Degenkolb. "To have this feeling, which I missed so much last year and now I have it already twice… It's so nice to be in the winning line again."

The team certainly oozed confidence as they took responsibility in the peloton to set up Degenkolb's victory. The 160km route, starting and finishing in Palma, was always likely to culminate in a sprint, with just one categorised climb on the menu - the Coll de sa Creu after 120km.

It might have spelled danger for Degenkolb as he punctured on the approach, but he was able to get back in without any issues. The peloton then split shortly after the descent but Degenkolb and Trek were safely in the first group for the finishing lap and, despite Lotto Soudal showing their intentions for Moreno Hofland, they made no mistake. 

The day had begun with an early breakaway containing Fabricio Ferrari (Caja Rural), Ibai Salas (Burgos-BH), Enrico Logica (Biesse-Carrera-Gavardo), Txomin Juaristi (Fundación Euskadi), Viktor Filutas (Pannon), and Julio Amores (Spain). They quickly established a led of more than five minutes but it wasn't long before Trek-Segafredo and Lotto Soudal set about reducing the deficit, bringing it down to just 2:30 after 45km of racing. 

With the gap just over a minute, the peloton split briefly after 70km but once calm was restored the escapees were allowed to build their advantage once again. The climb, however, spelled curtains. Logica and Filutas were the first to go, and the race was back together over the summit. 

Ferrari had claimed both intermediate sprints and Juaristi the KOM, but the day belonged to Degenkolb.

"We showed again we were the strongest team in the race," said the German. "In the leadout, we picked the right moment to come to the front, and I only had to do the last 200 meters, so that was for me super nice and I am so happy. This victory is definitely a team victory - for all of us. We took the responsibility and we got the reward for it." 

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Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-Segafredo3:47:29
2Erik Baska (Svk) Bora-HansgroheRow 1 - Cell 2
3Coen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Roompot-Nederlandse LoterijRow 2 - Cell 2
4Enrique Sanz Unzue (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-MuriasRow 3 - Cell 2
5Carlos Barbero (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Albert Torres Barcelo (Spa) Inteja DominicanRow 5 - Cell 2
7Jordi Warlop (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 6 - Cell 2
8José Rojas (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Leonardo Basso (Ita) Team SkyRow 8 - Cell 2
10Xavier Canellas (Spa) SpainRow 9 - Cell 2
11Jesus Ezquerra Muela (Spa) Burgos BHRow 10 - Cell 2
12Kevyn Ista (Bel) WB Aqua Protect VeranclassicRow 11 - Cell 2
13Romain Le Roux (Fra) Team Fortuneo-SamsicRow 12 - Cell 2
14Benjamin Declercq (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 13 - Cell 2
15Jon Ander Insausti (Spa) Team EusadiRow 14 - Cell 2
16Gonzalo Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 15 - Cell 2
17Eduard Prades Reverter (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-MuriasRow 16 - Cell 2
18Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 17 - Cell 2
19Michal Golas (Pol) Team SkyRow 18 - Cell 2
20Hector Saez Benito (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-MuriasRow 19 - Cell 2
21Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-SegafredoRow 20 - Cell 2
22Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 21 - Cell 2
23Garikoitz Bravo Oiarbide (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-MuriasRow 22 - Cell 2
24Elmar Reinders (Ned) Roompot-Nederlandse LoterijRow 23 - Cell 2
25Gatzon Martin (Spa) Team EuskadiRow 24 - Cell 2
26Awet Andemeskel (Eri) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 25 - Cell 2
27Fabricio Ferrari (Urg) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 26 - Cell 2
28Ibai Salas Zorrozua (Spa) Burgos BHRow 27 - Cell 2
29Lukas Pöstlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe0:00:04
30Nicolas Sessler (Bra) Burgos BHRow 29 - Cell 2
31Dimitri Peyskens (Bel) WB Aqua Protect VeranclassicRow 30 - Cell 2
32Igor Merino Kortazar (Spa) Burgos BHRow 31 - Cell 2
33Philip Deignan (Irl) Team SkyRow 32 - Cell 2
34Jaime Roson (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 33 - Cell 2
35Pim Ligthart (Ned) Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij0:00:10
36Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe0:00:12
37Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Sky0:00:16
38Boy van Poppel (Ned) Trek-SegafredoRow 37 - Cell 2
39Kiel Reijnen (USA) Trek-SegafredoRow 38 - Cell 2
40Markel Irizar (Spa) Trek-SegafredoRow 39 - Cell 2
41Moreno Hofland (Ned) Lotto SoudalRow 40 - Cell 2
42Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Lawrence Naesen (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:22
44Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe0:00:26
45Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:00:34
46Brian van Goethem (Ned) Roompot-Nederlandse LoterijRow 45 - Cell 2
47Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe0:00:38
48Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:40
49Frederik Frison (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 48 - Cell 2
50Txomin Juaristi (Spa) Team EuskadiRow 49 - Cell 2
51Eliot Lietaer (Bel) WB Aqua Protect VeranclassicRow 50 - Cell 2
52Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo0:00:51
53Juraj Sagan (Svk) Bora-HansgroheRow 52 - Cell 2
54Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:53
55Raul Colombo (Ita) Biesse Carrera Gavardo0:04:59
56Julien Mortier (Bel) WB Aqua Protect VeranclassicRow 55 - Cell 2
57Kenny Dehaes (Bel) WB Aqua Protect VeranclassicRow 56 - Cell 2
58Alberto Amici (Ita) Biesse Carrera GavardoRow 57 - Cell 2
59Enrico Salvador (Ita) Biesse Carrera GavardoRow 58 - Cell 2
60Gregory Rast (Swi) Trek-SegafredoRow 59 - Cell 2
61Ian Stannard (GBr) Team SkyRow 60 - Cell 2
62Sebastian Mora (Spa) SpainRow 61 - Cell 2
63Peio Goikoetxea (Spa) Team EuskadiRow 62 - Cell 2
64Dennis van Winden (Ned) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 63 - Cell 2
65Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Team SkyRow 64 - Cell 2
66Julio A Amores (Spa) SpainRow 65 - Cell 2
67Ibai Azurmendi (Spa) Team EuskadiRow 66 - Cell 2
68Nelson Andres Soto Martinez (Col) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 67 - Cell 2
69Daniel Lopez Parada (Spa) Burgos BHRow 68 - Cell 2
70Kenny Elissonde (Fra) Team SkyRow 69 - Cell 2
71Cristian Rodriguez Martin (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 70 - Cell 2
72Danilo Celano (Ita) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 71 - Cell 2
73Aitor Gonzalez Prieto (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-MuriasRow 72 - Cell 2
74Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo-OscaroRow 73 - Cell 2
75Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Fortuneo-OscaroRow 74 - Cell 2
76Benoit Jarrier (Fra) Fortuneo-OscaroRow 75 - Cell 2
77Bram Welten (Ned) Fortuneo-OscaroRow 76 - Cell 2
78Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 77 - Cell 2
79Aaron Verwilst (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 78 - Cell 2
80Luca Felix Happke (Ger) Team Sauerland NRW PB SK0:06:06
81Aaron Grosser (Ger) Team Sauerland NRW PB SKRow 80 - Cell 2
82Péter Simon (Hun) Pannon Cycling TeamRow 81 - Cell 2
83Per Chris Munstermann (Ger) Team Suderland NRW PB SKRow 82 - Cell 2
84Thomas Deruette (Bel) WB Aqua Protect VeranclassicRow 83 - Cell 2
85Adrian Gonzalez Velasco (Spa) Burgos BHRow 84 - Cell 2
86Ricardo Garcia (Spa) Team EuskadiRow 85 - Cell 2
87Jon Knolle (Ger) Team Sauderland NRW PB SKRow 86 - Cell 2
88Nicolo Gozzi (Ita) Biesse Carrera GavardoRow 87 - Cell 2
89Maxime Daniel (Fra) Fortuneo-OscaroRow 88 - Cell 2
90Lorenzo Delcó (Swi) Biesse Carrera GavardoRow 89 - Cell 2
91Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) Bora-HansgroheRow 90 - Cell 2
92Jesper Asselman (Ned) Roompot-Nederlandse LoterijRow 91 - Cell 2
93Dániel Dina (Hun) Pannon Cycling TeamRow 92 - Cell 2
94Daniel Turek (Cze) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 93 - Cell 2
95Sondre Enger (Nor) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 94 - Cell 2
96Christophe Noppe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 95 - Cell 2
97Emiel Planckaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 96 - Cell 2
98Vicente Garcia (Spa) SpainRow 97 - Cell 2
99Miguel A Benito Diaz (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 98 - Cell 2
100Wouter Wippert (Ned) Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij0:07:14
101Felix Intra (Ger) Team Sauderland NRW PB SK0:11:31
102Botond Hollo (Hun) Pannon Cycling Team0:12:16
103Viktor Filutas (Hun) Pannon Cycling TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Miklos Szabo (Slo) Pannon Cycling TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
105Antonio Molina Canet (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:13:42
106Sergio Pardilla Bellon (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 105 - Cell 2
107Rafael Reis (Por) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 106 - Cell 2
108Alex Aranburu Deba (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:13:44
109Nick van der Lijke (Ned) Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij0:14:46
110Illart Zuazubiskar (Spa) Spain0:15:21
111Gergo Orosz (Hun) Pannon Cycling TeamRow 110 - Cell 2
112Pablo Torres Muiño (Spa) Burgos BH0:16:11
113Márk Zathureczky (Hun) Pannon Cycling Team0:16:40
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Mountain 1 - Coll De Sa Creu - 126km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Txomin Juarusti (Spa) Team Euskadi6pts
2Gianni Moscon (Ita) Team Sky4Row 1 - Cell 3
3Hector Saez Benito (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias2Row 2 - Cell 3
4Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe1Row 3 - Cell 3
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Intermediate sprint 1 - Algaida, 19.2km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Fabricio Ferrari (Urg) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA3pts
2Txomin Juarusti (Spa) Team Euskadi2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Julio A Amores (Spa) Spain1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Intermeidate sprint 2 - Santa Maria, 91km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Fabricio Ferrari (Urg) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA3pts
2Txomin Juarusti (Spa) Team Euskadi2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Julio A Amores (Spa) Spain1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Special sprint 1 - Santa Margalida, 57.6km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Julio A Amores (Spa) Spain3pts
2Ibai Salas Zorrozua (Spa) Burgos BH2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Fabricio Ferrari (Urg) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Special sprint 2 -1 Paso por Meta,137.8km
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Markel Irizar (Spa) Trek-Segafredo3pts
2Frederik Frison (Bel) Lotto Soudal2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Txomin Juarusti (Spa) Team Euskadi1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Movistar Team11:22:27
2Euskadi Basque CountryRow 1 - Cell 2
3Team Sky0:00:04
4Burgos - BHRow 3 - Cell 2
5Roompot - Nederlandse0:00:10
6Trek - Segafredo0:00:16
7Bora - HansgroheRow 6 - Cell 2
8Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:00:34
9Lotto Soudal0:00:38
10Team Euskadi0:00:44
11WB Aqua Protect VerancRow 10 - Cell 2
12Seleccion Nacional0:04:59
13Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 12 - Cell 2
14Team Fortuneo - Samsic0:09:58
15Israel Cycling Academy0:11:05
16Biesse Carrera Gavardo0:14:57
17Team Sauerland NRW PB0:18:18
18Pannon Cycling Team0:24:28

 

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