Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) took his second win of the season when he won the bunch sprint that ended the Trofeo Palma, the first race of the Challenge Mallora. We have already posted several reactions and have gathered a few more below.

 

Ben Swift (Sky, 35th s.t.)

"So that's 2014 started. Not a great start to the season. Hopefully that will have blown away the cob webs though."

 

Dan Frost (sports director Team Sky whose best rider was Vasil Kiryienka in 17th)

“We had a plan for the day and to set up the sprint. We had Ian [Boswell] out there in the breakaway so we didn’t have to work that much on the front of the peloton. That worked well, and then coming into the final it was like entering a washing machine.

 

“If you are alone on the road then you can set up a [lead-out] train, but obviously everyone wants to battle for the position. Ben [Swift] was able to join onto the Quick-Step train but he just ended up getting forced off the wheel coming into the finish. That’s what happens in sprints like that.”

 

Speaking about tomorrow: “We put all our money on Swifty, which we had to do in a case like today. It just didn’t work out, but we are looking forward to tomorrow. The shorter stage today gave a lot more people the chance to fight, but tomorrow our training kilometres should be more of an advantage.”

 

Ruslan Tleubayev (Astana, 21st s.t.)

“First start of the year for a lot of guys today – for a fast race it was exactly what we expected – ride hard but even for the sprint, then let the teams take over and go for it.

 

“This is Fominykh’s first pro race – he doesn’t need much advice on where to be or how to do his role – he came through the same school as the rest of us, we learn those things early.”

 

Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha, 29th s.t.)

"For me as well as for many of my teammates and riders from other teams this race became the first one in this season and that’s why it was a little bit nervous and chaotic. In the final we tried to do something. Helped by my teammates I found a good position in front of the group, but it was really hard to fight with the pure sprinters. Anyway, it was a really good start and a perfect situation to begin to accommodate to the speed of the peloton. We have three hard days ahead of us, so let’s see what will happen."

 

Vicente Reynes (IAM, 13th s.t.)

“I chose the right side, but it was the wrong option.  This will certainly not stop me from taking away the good lessons I learned in my first race in IAM Cycling colors.  The guys rode very hard for me.  Hollenstein, Löfkvist and Kluge placed me really well.  The legs are good and I am motivated to make the most of the other opportunities this week.  Tomorrow we will have to be careful with the expected winds.  But we have the guys to climb at the front.”

 

Andrea Peron (Team Novo Nordisk, 8th s.t.)

“My legs felt okay today and to be honest I’m angry because I know I could have finished higher if I had started my sprint in a better position. Tomorrow, I’ll try again.

 

"No matter what, I’m proud to have earned the team a top 10 finish at our first European race; it shows just how far we’ve come since last year.”

 

Ruud Cremers (Team Novo Nordisk, 179th +3.03)

“I was trying to get into the breakaway today, but with a race at this elite of a level, I learned I need to have more experience. I’m looking forward to the next races so I can continue gaining experience. I want to perform at my best these next few days, and we’ll see what the future brings.”

 

Enrico Poitschke (sports director NetApp-Endura whose best rider was Ralf Matzka in 23rd)

"Ralf still had a very good position two kilometers before the finish. Then he was unfortunately boxed in, so that he was not able to sprint at all. We now have to analyze how this happened. He feels good and is in good form as well, so that the placement does not indicate anything about his current potential.

 

"The race tomorrow will have a completely different character than the one today. The mountain classifications are not so critical, because they are only smaller hills. In fact, the weather with the wind and perhaps some rain as well will play a role when the race is on smaller roads. We are expecting a fast race in which the riders will have to be extremely attentive."

 

Jens Zemke (sports director MTN-Qhubeka whose best rider was Kristian Sbaragli in 11th)

“It was all looking very good for Kristian and Andy [Stauff] with 500m to go. Then the sprint opened  and there was maybe some miscommunication, our guys got boxed in a bit and so no top 10 today. We will try again in the next days.”

 

Piotr Kosmala (sports director Active Jet whose best rider was Konrad Dabrowski in 14th)

"The guys did a good race. I am happy with them. The goal was to take the first UCI points for which you had to be in the top 12 but if not today then tomorrow. We are racing with the best teams in the world and you need to keep this in mind. It went well and the riders say that they can do even better."

 

Tomasz Mickiewicz (Active Jet who was 2nd in the first intermediate sprint, 72nd s.t.)

"I had my focus on the intermediate sprints before the start. The rider from Europcar [Bjorn Thurau] attacked from afar and took home the first place. I was the fastest in the bunch and moments, the break went which divided the sprints among them. We try to be active and that's what we were."

 

Konrad Dabrowski (Active Jet, 14th s.t.)

"It could have been much better. I lost a little in the end. The top 10 was certainly possible. It was our first race so I am sure that we will be better in the future although it is a shame to lose an opportunity."

 

 

Dylan Groenewegen (Cyclingteam De Rijke, 3rd s.t.)

"I really thought I had won. First I was a bit boxed in but once I could get clear, I came very close. I was first a little trapped, but once I could get there by sailing along, I came very close.

 

"Of course I was initially disappointed. I even had my arms in the air and everyone shouted that I had won. But I must also be satisfied. My goal was a top ten place. I had previously signed for this. This gives absolutely taste for more."

 

Yoeri Havik (Cyclingteam De Rijke, 10th s.t.)

"I've never really been able to sprint. The final was very hectic and sometimes you need some luck. I was simply out of position and then the start was not so good."

 

Bennie Lambregts (sports director Cyclingteam De Rijke whose best rider was Dylan Groenewegen in 3rd)

"But we will not change our tactics. Our motto here is: attack. We will make sure that we are part of the race and if there is a sprint, we will try."

 

Ronan Van Zandbeek (Cyclingteam De Rijke, part of the early breakaway, 146th s.t.)

"You knew that the tops teams would leave no room so it was not up to us to react. It was a perfect group in which everyone worked hard. Three laps from the end, we said to each other: now we go full gas to see if we can get the gap above a minute. But especially the Lampre team kept the pace so high that we never really had a chance. "