The XXXII Garden Hotels-Luxcom Challenge Cycling Mallorca squad will be made up of a total of 22 teams, eight in the UCI World Team category, 10 UCI Pro Team, 3 UCI Continental Team and the Spanish Track Team. Here you have the main names registered by the different formations to look for the first victories of the year between January 25 and 29.
Soudal Quick Step Team. Julian Alaphilippe opens the season in Mallorca, seeking to increase his record. He will participate for the first time since 2014 in the Challenge. Remi Cavagna will start the season where he expects a special start in 2023, after his vertebra operation. Pay attention also to Tim Merlier, tremendously quickly, as well as an extraordinary sense of smell to get into the “volatas”.
UAE Team Emirates. He will defend his options with the Colombian ‘sprinter’ Juan Sebastián Molano, the specialist in one-day tests Diego Ulissi and also Tim Wellens, a regular in the Challenge, winner last year in Lloseta, and who on this occasion will wear a new jersey.
Movistar Team. With Iván García Cortina in the lead, a runner with top speed in the tests of a very important day; the Austrian Gregor Muhlberger, skilful and committed, a fundamental piece on hard routes; the Danish Mathias Jorgensen and the German Max Kanter.
Intermarche-Circus Wanty. On this occasion, he attends the Challenge with a powerful team in his ranks, with Lilian Calmejane all-terrain runner; Rui Costa, veteran Portuguese cyclist recognized in the peloton, his most outstanding victory was the Road Cycling World Championship in 2013; Biniam Girmay, the Eritrean runner became the first cyclist from his country to win a stage in the Giro, and last year he achieved victory in Port d’Alcúdia; Louis Meintjes, the Petroria runner is one of the fittest in the international peloton and a great climber.
Bora-hansgrohe. The German cyclist Emanuel Buchmann, happy to return to the Challenge since in 2020 he won the Serra de Tramuntana Trophy. Lennard Kâmna after overcoming his problems returns this 2023 with renewed illusions.
Cofidis. Guillaume Martin “The French Philosopher” is hoping to play a prominent role this year, after an uneven 2022 campaign. Jesús Herrada already knows what it is to win in the Challenge, in 2019 and 2020, where he won the Serra de Tramuntana Trophy.
Team Arkea-Samsic. One of his strongmen stands out, Warren Barguil. The French rider is usually at the top of the general classifications on mountain courses, while Anthony Delaplace, also a specialist in one-day races, will have his options along with the Spanish Cristian Rodríguez.
EF Education-Easypost. Danish Magnus Cort Nielsen is one of the most complete riders in the current peloton, capable of winning on any terrain. Mark Padun, this Ukrainian runner with an “Italian school” is one of the talents that works best in climbing and is called for great challenges. Neilson Powless, winner in 2021 of the Clásica de San Sebastián.
Lotto Dstny. Thomas De Gent, a veteran cyclist, appreciated and respected in the peloton, is above all a specialist in breakaways. Winner of a stage in the three grand tours, this unusual rider loves to achieve solo victories. Jacopo Guarnieri, the team’s rookie with great potential to ride in long stages.
Kern Pharma. Roger Adrià, a true force of nature, with a privileged engine and an inexhaustible competitive desire; Iñigo Elosegui debuts with his new team; Igor Arrieta, one of the great promises of Spanish cycling.
Caja Rural-Seguros RGA. Julen Amezqueta, a veteran of the team who moves well on difficult terrain. Fernando Barceló, the cyclist from Huesca, is satisfied with his work and faces 2023 with greater enthusiasm than the previous year. Jon Barrenetxea, one of the young mainstays of the Navarrese formation.
Euskaltel-Euskadi. The Basque team heads their list with the experienced Luis Ángel Mate, an expert in long breakaways, with Unai Iribar, capable of turning the peloton “upside down”, together with the veteran Gotzon Martin.
Team Flanders-Baloise. It is a group of regular runners on the roads of Mallorca that brings youth and a staff made entirely of young Belgian runners.
Israel-Premier Tech. Participates with three Israeli runners Omer Goldstein, Nadv Raisberg and Roi Weinberg.
Green Project-Bardiani Csf-Faizane. Davide Gabburo stands out, whose forte is one-day tests and sprint finishes.
Eolo-Kometa Cycling Team. They arrive at the Challenge with three of his best riders, Vicenzo Albanese, Italian rider, his numerous results in the big races guarantee him, his forte is massive arrivals, Francesco Gavazzi, the team’s veteran, Mirco Maestri is an expert on all kinds of terrain .
Human Powered Health. It has new and experienced runners, which makes a combination of youth and veteran, highlighting August Jensen, Gage Hecht, Stephen Basset and Pier André Côté.
Burgos BH. The Burgos team is a fixture in the Challenge and arrives with a team of “bells” with Manolo Peñalver, whose strength is sprint arrivals, Dani Navarro, a veteran of the peloton with great skill in mountain days and former triathlete Ander okamica.
Electro Hiper Europa Team. Team that lines up three Mallorcan riders whose motivation will be higher when they are in front of their fans such as Mateu Estelrich, Xavier Cañellas, a good roller who has combined track cycling with road cycling and Joan Marti Bennassar , a long-distance runner who also participates in the track.
Kiwi Atlantic Cabo de Peñas. It enrolls a group of young people among which Eduardo Pérez Landaluce stands out, one of the most promising young people in Spanish cycling.
Project Echelon Racing. The American team will participate with a group of young runners of different nationalities.
Spanish Track Selection. Headed by two Mallorcan riders Francesc Bennàssar and Marc Terrasa, and with Sebastián Mora, the six-time European champion and world scratch champion.