A puncture prevents Lonardi from fighting for the Trofeo Puerto d’Alcùdia

After yesterday’s good result, with Albanese climbing the podium of the Trofeo Calvià, the second round of the Challenge de Mallorca did not allow the EOLO KOMETA riders to shine.

The more than 170 kilometres and the pleasant weather conditions in the north of the island made it possible to save a race in which tension and crashes were the protagonists of the initial moments, affecting Sergio García and Francesco Gavazzi but without major consequences. A breakaway of three riders formed quickly and rode with a gap of more than 6 minutes, always controlled by the big group.

After halfway through the race, the terrain became tougher and an area with a narrow road, with several twists and turns, before the start of the Sa Batalla pass, stretched out the main peloton. The climb was tackled at a high pace, which sought to select the group and face a reduced sprint. Although the EOLO Kometa riders worked well for Lonardi, the Italian suffered a puncture at the key moment and was unable, although he came very close with the support of his team-mates, to rejoin the main bunch.

With only 50 riders able to compete in the race, Mirco Maestri, Diego Pablo Sevilla and Francesco Gavazzi held on on behalf of the team, although they could not make it to the mass finish, which crowned Girmay (Wanty) in the streets of Alcudia.

Jesús Hernández: “We wanted to be with Lonardi and support him in order to be able to compete for the finish. He suffered a puncture just at the beginning of the most demanding climb of the day, and although we left three riders to help him, he couldn’t come back because of the strong pace of the bunch. We still had Maestri ahead of us, but he was very tired and couldn’t take part in the race”.

  SprintCycling