Paul Magnier immediately wins the first race for Soudal Quick-Step in Mallorca

Thursday January 25, 2024 at 3:44 PM

Paul Magnier has won the Trofeo Ses Salines-Felanitx. The 19-year-old Frenchman immediately won his first race in the Soudal Quick-Step jersey after a great lead-out from the other youngster, Luke Lamperti, who finished third. Alberto Dainese (Tudor Pro Cycling) crossed the finish line in second. Marijn van den Berg was the best Dutchman in fourth place.

On the second day of the Challenge Mallorca, an uphill finish was on the program. The altitude profile of the Trofeo Ses Salines-Felanitx resembled a mountain stage, but in comparison it was not too bad compared to most other races this week.

Only in the last eight kilometers did the road really climb, with a steeper section at 6% at seven kilometers from the finish. Quite doable for many sprinters, as evidenced by the honors list with Marijn van den Berg, Matteo Moschetti, John Degenkolb and André Greipel. In total the race was 173 kilometers long.

photo: Cor Vos

Hopeless early flight
After less than three kilometers of racing, West Flemish Victor Vercouillie (Team Flanders-Baloise) showed up as the first attacker of the day. After an internship at Bolton Equities Black Spoke last autumn, he immediately wanted to show himself on his professional debut for his new team. Spaniard Edgar Curto Pellicer (Polti-Kometa), Italian Ricardo Lucca (VF Group Bardiani-CSF Faizanè) and New Zealander Ethan Craine (Project Echelon Racing) hitched their wagon.

This foursome quickly received the blessing of the peloton, which allowed them to pull away for more than five and a half minutes. Uno X-Mobility took responsibility in the peloton, following their experienced leader Alexander Kristoff. Tudor also lent a hand to sprinter Alberto Dainese, as did Arnaud Démare’s Arkéa-B&B Hotels.

Thanks to a strong tailwind, the race passed quickly at an average of 45 kilometers per hour. And just as quickly as the lead increased, the four leaders had to close their gap again. After all, with about fifty kilometers to go, they only had a minute left. A strong Vercouillie then decided to accelerate, and he only saw Lucca following. In the last ten kilometers the Belgian was even left alone, but he didn’t stand a chance against the increasingly faster sprinter teams.

Mass sprint
In the ascending final, Soudal Quick-Step impressed with a train of no fewer than six riders. Despite a sky-high pace from the other trains, 19-year-old sprinter Paul Magnier received a lead-out from teammate Luke Lamperti. All in all, the Frenchman was able to finish it easily. Alberto Dainese finished second, well behind, ahead of Lamperti.

Marijn van den Berg, who won this race in Mallorca last year, finished fourth. The Dutchman from EF Education-EasyPost never really got around to sprinting, because he was not in an ideal position in the last few corners. He had to swerve and brake.

photo: Cor Vos