Challenge Mallorca 2016 Preview

By David Hunter

After the enjoyment of racing in Australia and Argentina, we return to Europe and the sunny island of Mallorca. The weather has been kind over the last couple of weeks, making training most enjoyable for the all the teams. The race lasts 4 days, with 2 stages for sprinters, 1 for climbers and 1 for the puncheurs. This is still the pre-season for the riders and it is very difficult to predict who will already be in condition, but I’ll try!

Sprinters

Andre Greipel – Going for a similar start to last year, his best ever! He arrives with a very strong looking lead-out: Roelandts, Sieberg and Debusschere. He ended the season well and Lotto have been saying that his training numbers are even better in 2016. It’s always nice to start with a win and he should be in the best position possible for the sprint.

Nacer Bouhanni – Developed an annoying habit of falling off his bike in 2015. You wouldn’t describe it as a great year for the Frenchman and Cofidis will be looking for a little more in 2016. His sprint train wasn’t amazing either, so it will be interesting to see the role that Borut Bozic is given. They have signed him to increase their chances in the semi-classics but he is a good man to have in a sprint. I would expect him to slip into number 3, with Soupe continuing at 2.

Sam Bennett – 2015 was an important year in his development, taking out a few big wins. Another improvement will be expected in 2016 and I think he will deliver. The signing of Shane Archbold was a master stroke, last year. Despite lacking in top level experience, he’s developing into one of the best lead-out men in the world. He couldn’t have a better coach in Greg Henderson. Like Cofidis, they have made a new signing for position 3, Selig from Katusha. Teams know that having a good lead-out man is pointless if they are poorly placed. Selig will be a great signing for Bora-Argon.

Edward Theuns – Fast Eddie is making his debut for Trek. He made such a strong start to 2015, it would be great to see a repeat. Trek arrive with a very experienced squad and he can count upon the help of Coledan, Felline and Stuyven. Not being a pure sprinter, he will hope that the others are lacking a bit of condition.

Marc Sarreau – The 22 year old from FDJ had an okay neo-pro year, taking out one win. This season will be important for him, it’s contract year! He’ll be helped by another young Frenchman, Lorrenzo Manzin. FDJ have also brought the old guard with them: William Bonnet and Sebastien Chavanel.  It’s Bonnet’s first race since his horror crash in the Tour. Best of luck to him.

Gianni Meersman – After a good 2014, Meersman struggled in 2015. He won the Cadel Evans race and a stage in the Algarve, by mid February. He followed that up with the Handzame Classic in March but nothing after that. The Belgian was such a promising rider but seems to have lost his way a bit. He’s also in his contract year and I would be amazed if his was renewed. He needs some big wins, if he wants to continue riding at the highest level. No matter the race, Etixx are always strong. They have Maes, Vermote and Trentin to support him. If he falters, they can also call on Matteo Trentin. He ended 2015 in fast form, winning Paris-Tours and a stage in the Tour of Britain. He also finished 2nd and 3rd in Coppa Bernocchi and Giro del Piemonte. Trentin is a rider I have a lot of time for. He could have a huge 2016.

Jonas Van Genechten – I always find the Belgian a frustrating sprinter. He has the raw power required but rarely delivers on the big stage. He arrives with Vicente Reynes, a very experienced lead-out man. Reynes is used to working with Pelucchi, so knows how to deliver victories. Hopefully Van Genechten can start the season well.

Owain Doull – Riding with the GB team, he can call upon help from many Team Wiggins teammates. If you haven’t heard of him before, where have you been? A very talented Welsh cyclist, who has made the move from track to road. He’s quick but not a pure sprinter. He’ll already be in good form, thanks to many track events he’s participated in throughout the winter.

Filippo Fortin – There is something about the Italian I like! He was 6th in the 2011 under 23 World Championship. He’s a very quick rider but couldn’t make the grade at Bardiani. He dropped down to ride with GM in 2015 and continues with them in 2016. He won a stage in Okolo Slovenska and I really hope he gets a bit of luck and finds himself riding for a bigger team in 2017.

Also looking for good early results will be Andrea Pasqualon and Edvald Boasson Hagen.

Climbers

We have a long list of climbers here looking to take advantage of the local terrain and fabulous weather.

Etixx – Jungels, Brambilla, Alaphilippe(if over his illness)

Cannondale – Slagter

Movistar – Valverde, Dayer Quintana, Ion Izagirre, Visconti

Sky – Intxausti, Roche, Kwiatkowski, Poels

Trek – Schleck,  Mollema

Dimension Data – Fraile, Cummings, Siutsou

Lotto – Benoot, Wellens

Caja Rural – Arroyo, Madrazo, Bilbao, Carthy, Jose Goncalves

RusVelo – Firsanov

Bora – Nerz, Konrad, Mendes

As we all know, Alejandro Valverde is always in form! This season he contests his first ever Giro, just imagine the form he’ll be carrying already. Movistar will have all the pressure, as usual, and I fully expect them to deliver. They have Dayer Quintana, fresh from his win in San Luis, and the developing Ion Izagirre. This man improves every single year, winning the Tour of Poland in 2015. He really is the real deal and I expect an even better year in 2016.

Tim Wellens grabbed a 2nd place here in 2015, a good start to a great year. I’m really excited to see what he can achieve in 2016, just like Tiesj Benoot. Do not presume that Tiesj is just a classics man, he can climb too! He was particularly strong in the Dauphine and I’m eager to see what legs he has in 2016. Such a heavy workload in 2015 might mean a slower start to the year, but considering how strong he is, he’ll probably be flying!

Team Sky can contend with Movistar, in terms of climbing quality. Michal Kwiatkowski makes his debut and these climbs are within his capabilities. Their other new signing, Benat Intxausti, is no stranger to the roads of Mallorca and he’ll expect some good results.

Bauke Mollema enjoyed a good debut year with Trek. He won the Tour of Alberta, was 2nd in Tirreno and finished 7th in a brutal Tour de France. Both he and the team will be pleased with this but he’ll want more in 2016, especially if Trek are interested in signing Vincenzo Nibali.

Trofeo Ses Salines

Sprint stage, don’t let the little bumps confuse you! Due to the strength of his lead-out, I’ll say an early win for Greipel.

Trofeo Andratx 

Nowhere near as hard as previous years, but still in the “lumpy” category. I’ll go with Matteo Trentin.

Trofeo Tramuntana

Easily the hardest day with 6 categorised climbs. Should be a day for Valverde.

Trofeo de Palma

Another day for the sprinters. Would love to see Bennett win against Bouhanni.

Remember, this race is more about seeing who carries form than who wins. It gives a big hint as to the riders who will shine in the upcoming stage races. If you are interested in the future stars of cycling, keep an eye out for Odd Christian Eiking, Laurens De Plus, Vegard Stake Laengen, Louis Vervaeke, Hugh Carthy and Silvio Herklotz.

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