The sixteenth edition of the Mallorcan cycling event was characterised by the best weather conditions. Janine Meyer topped the leaderboard and improved the previous women's course record. Meyer covered the race at an average speed of 34 km/h. Jan Ullrich, who started with race number 312, chose the short distance and was delighted with the event. He had not started with any ambitions and finished the 167 kilometre distance in 6:35 hours. The three distances on offer - 167, 226 and 312 kilometres - attracted numerous former professionals and ambitious amateur cyclists to the Balearic island. According to the organisers, there were 8,500 participants.
New best time at Mallorca 312
Janine Meyer rode the longest distance in 9:09:45 hours, beating the previous record. The German relegated Victoria Stansfield with 9:30:18 hours and Catherine Rossman with 9:40:18 hours to second and third place. The men's race was decided by a final sprint. Britain's Luke Barfoot won ahead of Germany's Albrecht Anton and Yannick Ruschmeier. All three riders crossed the finish line after 8:45:29 hours.
Ex-professionals at Mallorca 312
Jan Ullrich completed the 167-kilometre course and emphasised the atmosphere throughout the event. He crossed the finish line after 6:35 hours - around ten minutes ahead of Marcel Wüst. Alberto Contador was much more ambitious on the long distance: he finished the 312 kilometres in 9:09:58 hours. The rider from Madrid explained that this was the edition of Mallorca 312 that he enjoyed the most. He was significantly faster than his compatriot Miguel Indurain: the latter reached the finish after 9:48:55 hours and praised the groups, which enabled a good pace and ensured that you still felt strong even after many kilometres.
German wins over 167 kilometres
The shortest course recorded the first official times of the day. Benjamin Witt from Germany clocked the best time among the men with 4:38:28 hours. The Mallorcan Juan Carlos Riutort Martínez reached the finish with the same time, Pere Amengual came third in 4:40:39 hours. Marina Garau Roca, professional rider for BePink - Imatra - Bongioanni, won the women's race in 4:48:38 hours. Martyna Wiśniewska from Poland needed 5:08:19 hours, Nicoline Rahbek Ravn crossed the finish line after 5:28:38 hours.
Results of the 226 kilometres
David López from Club Ciclista Artanenc won the middle distance in 6:31:28 hours. A sprint decided second place, which was shared by the German Kai Neumann and the Belgian Niels Merckx. Both crossed the finish line with the same time as López. Barbora Besperát won the women's race in 7:09:44 hours ahead of María Elisa Mejía with 7:31:39 hours and Rosario Vilar Salvá with 7:45:02 hours.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
