The second race of "Challenge Illes Balears", Trofeo Cala Millor, was run today over176 km of mostly flattish landscape, with three 4th category hills on the way.
Five riders, Mas, Deroo, Van Zandbeek, Ortega and Blázquez attacked immediately after the starting shot, they had 6'30" on the peloton after 25 kilometres. The chase began then, and they were caught 20 kilometres short of the finish.
No other attack succeeded, and the decision came with another bunch sprint, won by three times World champion Oscar Freire (Rabobank) ahead of German Andre Greipel (HTC - Columbia) and Portuguese Manuel Cardoso (Footon-Servetto). Robbie finished 16th.
[07/02/2010] - ROBBIE FASTEST IN TROFEO PALMA !!!
Like last year, Robbie started toda his European season in the "Challenge Illes Balears", a five-days series with free participation.
The opening stage, Trofeo Palma, was a 116 km races over ten 11.6 km laps in the streets of Palma de Majorca. With a speed averaging nearly 50 km/h; no breakaway was possible.
It ended thus with a full pack sprint, and nobody was able to beat our champ. Robbie won the race ahead of two Spanish riders, Koldo Fernandez De Larrea (Euskatel) and Oscar Freire (Rabobank).
