Meersman wins Trofeo Muro-Port d'Alcudia

Less than two hours after Tom Boonen had triumphed in the Tour of Qatar, his Omega Pharma-Quick Step team-mate Gianni Meersman clinched a second sprint victory for the Belgian squad on Wednesday on the last day's racing in the Mallorca Challenge.

Following Michel Kwiatkowski's win at Lluc monastery on Tuesday - and the Pole was in the thick of the action again on Wednesday - this was Omega Pharma-Quick Step's second victory in as many days in the four-race series on Mallorca that since 1990 has acted as the curtain-raiser on the racing calendar in Spain.

Whilst Boonen and co. had to cope with strong winds on the relentless flatlands of Qatar, in Mallorca, Meersman and the rest of the pack were facing just the opposite kind of terrain: four classified ascents, including Mallorca's hardest climb, the Puig Major. Then came a fast descent off the last climb, the second category Coll d'Honor and a long flatter ride to the tourist resort of Port d'Alcudia, with a tail-wind pushing them most of the way, on the island's northern coast.

Although 180 riders started racing on a warm, breezy day, around 45 riders remained in the leading peloton as it came out of Mallorca's Tramuntana mountain range. Yet more attacks shattered even that smaller bunch and left the front group that fought it out for the final win of the 2014 Mallorca Challenge just 12 strong.

On the long, flat approach road into Port d'Alcudia, Meersman went for a short but all-out drive close to the right hand barriers, with his effort powerful enough to keep both local sprint star Fran Ventoso (Movistar) and Ben Swift (Sky) - second on Monday - at bay. Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida), already twice a winner in Mallorca this year, finished fourth.

"The final was quite fast, in the last 40 kilometres we were going at 55 or 60 kilometres an hour," Meersman, fourth on Mallorca's opening leg and third on Monday, said afterwards. "Sky had controlled the race, but in the last part we [Omega Pharma Quick Step] took it over, and I'm really pleased you could win."

"Edvald Boasson Hagen launched the sprint for [Sky team-mate] Ben Swift, Modolo also went and then I waited and Kwiatkowski took me up to their back wheel, so my timing was maybe a little bit better. I waited for 50 metres longer to start my sprint, and then I made my last effort to pass them."

Whilst the next race in Spain will be the five-day Tour of Andalusia next week, Meersman will now do another training camp, with Paris-Nice and Milan-San Remo in his sights a little further into the spring.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Gianni Meersman (Bel) Omega Pharma - QuickStep3:50:07
2Francisco José Ventoso (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Ben Swift (GBr) Team SkyRow 2 - Cell 2
4Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 3 - Cell 2
5Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team SkyRow 5 - Cell 2
7Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica GreenedgeRow 6 - Cell 2
8Sergei Chernetski (Rus) Team KatushaRow 7 - Cell 2
9Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 8 - Cell 2
10Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin SharpRow 9 - Cell 2
11Bjorn Thurau (Ger) Team EuropcarRow 10 - Cell 2
12Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma - QuickStepRow 11 - Cell 2
13Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team Katusha0:00:06
14Miguel Minguez (Spa) Team EuskadiRow 13 - Cell 2
15Romain Zingle (Fra) CofidisRow 14 - Cell 2
16Caleb Fairly (USA) Garmin Sharp0:00:08
17Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Merida0:00:09
18Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-MeridaRow 17 - Cell 2
19Ruben Plaza (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 18 - Cell 2
20Rigoberto Uran (Col) Omega Pharma - QuickStepRow 19 - Cell 2
21Chris Horner (USA) Lampre-MeridaRow 20 - Cell 2
22Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma - QuickStepRow 21 - Cell 2
23Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team0:00:17
24Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky0:00:32
25Pieter Serry (Bel) Omega Pharma - QuickStepRow 24 - Cell 2
26Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Omega Pharma - QuickStepRow 25 - Cell 2
27Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Omega Pharma - QuickStep0:00:57
28Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team0:01:06
31Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Belisol0:01:47
32Reto Hollenstein (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 31 - Cell 2
33Tom Slagter (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 32 - Cell 2
34Tiago Machado (Por) Team Netapp - Endura0:03:01
35Amets Txurruka (Spa) Caja Rural - SegurosRow 34 - Cell 2
36David De La Cruz (Spa) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 35 - Cell 2
37Mathias Frank (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 36 - Cell 2
38Sergio Pardilla (Spa) MTN - QhubekaRow 37 - Cell 2
39Egoitz Garcia (Spa) CofidisRow 38 - Cell 2
40Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) IAM CyclingRow 39 - Cell 2
41Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 40 - Cell 2
42Andre Cardoso (Por) Garmin SharpRow 41 - Cell 2
43Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol0:04:39
45Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis0:09:30
46Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 45 - Cell 2
47Victor Martin (Spa) Burgos-BHRow 46 - Cell 2
48Jesus Ezquerra (Spa) Activejet TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Igor Merino (Spa) Burgos-BHRow 48 - Cell 2
50Erick Rowsell (GBr) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 49 - Cell 2
51Benat Intxausti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
52Sebastian Henao (Col) Team SkyRow 51 - Cell 2
53Igor Anton (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54Iker Camano (Spa) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 53 - Cell 2
55David Lopez (Spa) Team SkyRow 54 - Cell 2
56Jan Barta (Cze) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 55 - Cell 2
57Jonathan Fumeaux (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 56 - Cell 2
58Adam Yates (GBr) Orica GreenedgeRow 57 - Cell 2
59Jesus Del Pino (Spa) Burgos-BHRow 58 - Cell 2
60Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 59 - Cell 2
61Eros Capecchi (Ita) Movistar TeamRow 60 - Cell 2
62Phillip Gaimon (USA) Garmin SharpRow 61 - Cell 2
63Alex Howes (USA) Garmin SharpRow 62 - Cell 2
64Simon Spilak (Slo) Team KatushaRow 63 - Cell 2
65Linus Gerdemann (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 64 - Cell 2
66David Belda (Spa) Burgos-BHRow 65 - Cell 2
67Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin SharpRow 66 - Cell 2
68Antonio Piedra (Spa) Caja Rural - SegurosRow 67 - Cell 2
69Simon Yates (GBr) Orica GreenedgeRow 68 - Cell 2
70Mikel Landa (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 69 - Cell 2
71Marcos Garcia (Spa) Caja Rural - SegurosRow 70 - Cell 2
72Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team KatushaRow 71 - Cell 2
73Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre-MeridaRow 72 - Cell 2
74Jose Serpa (Col) Lampre-MeridaRow 73 - Cell 2
75Dario Hernandez (Spa) Burgos-BHRow 74 - Cell 2
76Javier Megias (Spa) Team Novo NordiskRow 75 - Cell 2
77Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida0:09:36
78Haritz Orbe (Spa) Team Euskadi0:15:12
79Carlos Barbero (Spa) Team EuskadiRow 78 - Cell 2
80Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN - QhubekaRow 79 - Cell 2
81Pablo Lechuga (Spa) Team EuskadiRow 80 - Cell 2
82Maxime Mederel (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 81 - Cell 2
83Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 82 - Cell 2
84Patrick Schelling (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 83 - Cell 2
85Jhoan Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica GreenedgeRow 84 - Cell 2
86Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN - Qhubeka0:16:03
87Juan Carlos Riutort (Spa) Burgos-BH0:16:34
88Arakdiusz Owsian (Pol) Activejet TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
89Pawel Brylowski (Pol) Activejet TeamRow 88 - Cell 2
90David Lozano (Spa) Team Novo NordiskRow 89 - Cell 2
91Huub Duyn (Ned) Cyclingteam De RijkeRow 90 - Cell 2
92Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana Pro TeamRow 91 - Cell 2
93Nick Nuyens (Bel) Garmin SharpRow 92 - Cell 2
94Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Movistar TeamRow 93 - Cell 2
95Javier Francisco Aramendia (Spa) Caja Rural - SegurosRow 94 - Cell 2
96David Millar (GBr) Garmin SharpRow 95 - Cell 2
97Johann Van Zyl (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 96 - Cell 2
98Frantisek Padour (Cze) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 97 - Cell 2
99Kévin Reza (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 98 - Cell 2
100Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Cyclingteam De RijkeRow 99 - Cell 2
101Angelo Tulik (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 100 - Cell 2
102Jonathan Mcevoy (GBr) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 101 - Cell 2
103Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Adrien Petit (Fra) CofidisRow 103 - Cell 2
105Pablo Torres (Spa) Burgos-BHRow 104 - Cell 2
106Natnael Berhane (Eri) Team EuropcarRow 105 - Cell 2
107Joshua Edmondson (GBr) Team Sky0:16:40
108Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team SkyRow 107 - Cell 2
109José Mendes (Por) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 108 - Cell 2
110Davide Vigano (Ita) Caja Rural - SegurosRow 109 - Cell 2
111Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus) Team KatushaRow 110 - Cell 2
112Daniel Westmattelmann (Ger) Team Kuota0:19:31
113Charles Planet (Fra) Team Novo NordiskRow 112 - Cell 2
114Edwig Cammaerts (Bel) CofidisRow 113 - Cell 2
115Yoeri Havik (Ned) Cyclingteam De RijkeRow 114 - Cell 2
116Daniel Teklehaimanot (Eri) MTN - QhubekaRow 115 - Cell 2
117Martin Wesmann (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 116 - Cell 2
118Andreas Stauff (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 117 - Cell 2
119Michal Podlaski (Pol) Activejet TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
120Kevin De Mesmaeker (Bel) Team Novo NordiskRow 119 - Cell 2
121David Muntaner (Spa) Activejet TeamRow 120 - Cell 2
122Emanuel Piaskowy (Pol) Activejet TeamRow 121 - Cell 2
123Pawel Franczak (Pol) Activejet TeamRow 122 - Cell 2
124Cyril Lemoine (Fra) CofidisRow 123 - Cell 2
125Joonas Henttala (Fin) Team Novo NordiskRow 124 - Cell 2
126Ibai Salas (Spa) Burgos-BHRow 125 - Cell 2
127Jasha Sütterlin (Ger) Movistar TeamRow 126 - Cell 2
128Mario Gonzalez (Spa) Activejet TeamRow 127 - Cell 2
129Benat Txoperena (Spa) Team EuskadiRow 128 - Cell 2
130Florian Senechal (Fra) CofidisRow 129 - Cell 2
131Pavel Kochetkov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 130 - Cell 2
132Maxim Belkov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 131 - Cell 2
133Jon Larrinaga (Spa) Team EuskadiRow 132 - Cell 2
134Stig Broeckx (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 133 - Cell 2
135Victor Etxebarria (Spa) Team EuskadiRow 134 - Cell 2
136Ike Groen (Ned) Cyclingteam De RijkeRow 135 - Cell 2
137Jan Deutschmann (Ger) Team Kuota0:19:36
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Coll De Femenia (Cat. 2), km. 44.7
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Amets Txurruka (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA10pts
2André Cardoso (Por) Garmin Sharp7Row 1 - Cell 3
3Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Astana Pro Team5Row 2 - Cell 3
4Igor Anton (Spa) Movistar Team3Row 3 - Cell 3
5Jesus Del Pino (Spa) Burgos BH2Row 4 - Cell 3
6Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team1Row 5 - Cell 3
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Coll Del Puig Major (Cat. 2), km. 67.2
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team10pts
2Amets Txurruka (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA7Row 1 - Cell 3
3André Cardoso (Por) Garmin Sharp5Row 2 - Cell 3
4Igor Anton (Spa) Movistar Team3Row 3 - Cell 3
5Christian Meier (Can) Orica Greenedge2Row 4 - Cell 3
6Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Astana Pro Team1Row 5 - Cell 3
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Coll De Soller (Cat. 2), km. 91.9
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Amets Txurruka (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA10pts
2Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol7Row 1 - Cell 3
3Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Movistar Team5Row 2 - Cell 3
4Tiago Machado (Por) Team Netapp Endura3Row 3 - Cell 3
5Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Astana Pro Team2Row 4 - Cell 3
6André Cardoso (Por) Garmin Sharp1Row 5 - Cell 3
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Coll d'Honor (Cat. 2), km. 106.3
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Movistar Team10pts
2Tiago Machado (Por) Team Netapp Endura7Row 1 - Cell 3
3Amets Txurruka (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA5Row 2 - Cell 3
4Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky3Row 3 - Cell 3
5Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky2Row 4 - Cell 3
6Joshua Edmondson (GBr) Team Sky1Row 5 - Cell 3
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Sprint 1 - Alcudia, km 23,20
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Andreas Stauff (Ger) MTN-Qhubeka3pts
2Kenny De Haes (Bel) Lotto Belisol2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Jon Larrinaga (Spa) Team Euskadi1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 2 - Bunyola, km 100,20
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Amets Txurruka (Spa) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA3pts
2Miguel Minguez (Spa) Team Euskadi2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Tiago Machado (Por) Team Netapp Endura1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Special sprint 1 - Pollença, km 30,20
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Roger Kluge (Ger) IAM Cycling3pts
2Tiago Machado (Por) Team Netapp Endura2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Sergio Pardilla (Spa) MTN-Qhubeka1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Special sprint 2 - Inca, km 134,50
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky3pts
2Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Sky1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Omega Pharma - Quick-Step11:30:30
2Lampre-Merida0:00:09
3Team Sky0:00:23
4Astana Pro Team0:01:05
5Garmin Sharp0:01:46
6Movistar Team0:03:01
7IAM Cycling0:07:40
8Team Katusha0:09:27
9Cofidis0:12:28
10Team Europcar0:15:03
11Team Netapp - Endura0:15:23
12Lotto Belisol0:15:47
13Orica Greenedge0:18:51
14Caja Rural - Seguros RGA0:21:52
15MTN - Qhubeka0:27:34
16Burgos-BH0:28:21
17Team Euskadi0:30:21
18Activejet Team0:42:29

 

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Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.

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