Before a spectacular setting such as the Cathedral of Palma, Ethan Vernon (Soudal Quick-Step) has been awarded the last trophy of the XXXII Garden Hotels-Luxcom Challenge Ciclista Mallorca to the sprint, beating Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) and Jarne van de Paar (Lotto-Dstny), second and third, respectively.
The British sprinter snapped the Intermarché-Circus-Wanty team’s winning streak in what could have been a perfect week of victories, having won three of the first four trophies contested. Vernon said at the end that “it seemed like a chase on the track, my first victory of the season and so early fills me with satisfaction.”
A four-man breakaway managed to establish a margin from the start, with Xabier Berasategi (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Ivan Cobo Cayon (Kern Pharma Team), Vincent Van Hemelen (Team Flanders-Baloise) and Marc Terrasa (Aluminios Cortizo), who arrived to reach an advantage of more than a minute and a half over the peloton, which at all times had them under control.
With 18 km to go, the compact group began the 3.5 km circuit in Palma and after four laps, they reached the sprint, with the victory of Vernon.