Magnificent Moschetti

Trek-Segafredo kicked off their European season with the same class as Down Under as young Italian sprinter Matteo Moschetti exploited flawless teamwork to win the first day of the four-day Challenge Mallorca Thursday.

“Alexander Kamp did a real good job to control the race, and then, in the end, all the guys were amazing,” said an elated Moschetti. “They started with (Alex) Kirsch, (Quinn) Simmons, Ryan (Mullen), Jasper (Stuyven), and then Emils (Liepins) was a perfect lead-out. The victory of today, I have to say thank you to all the guys because they were perfect, and I just finalized their work.”

The Trofeo Felanitx, Ses Salines, Campos, Porreres expected to finish in a bunch sprint, and the team took early initiative in the 170-kilometer race with another new face to the team this year, Dane Alexander Kamp, putting in some hard miles in keeping the breakaway in check.

The team’s plan was two-fold: Jasper Stuyven was to go for a late flyer with Moschetti ready for the sprint if that did not pan-out, but when the race wound up in the final kilometers, Stuyven, instead, was prominent on the front.

“In the end, Jasper decided to go for the lead-out, and a big thanks to him because he took a good decision for me and also for the team,” pointed out Moschetti.

The team made a thorny finish smooth for Moschetti, leading the young Italian fastman through a roundabout and last two corners.

“The final was tricky with the two last corners, and also the roundabout, but like I said, the guys did a perfect job – really perfect. We are a strong team, and today we proved this,” added Moschetti.

“To start the season with a win means a lot for me because last year it was not easy. I had two bad crashes, so I want to prove, first to myself, and then to all the people that I am at a good level and I can win some races, so…,” his voice trailed off, then he added, smiling, “I am really happy.”

Pascal Ackermann opens European season for BORA – hansgrohe with a second place

Traditionally BORA – hansgrohe opens its European season with the races of the Mallorca Challenge. Like in previous years, the first race around Felanitx was one for the sprinters in the bunch and after a small leading group was gone for most of the day, finally it all came down to the expected bunch sprint. Former German Champion Pascal Ackermann was led out from his BORA – hansgrohe teammates and finished off a strong team effort with a second place.

Results
01 M. Moschetti 0:00:00
02 P. Ackermann +0:00
03 J. Aberastur +0:00

From the Finish Line
„It was really difficult today to get the positioning right in the finale. It was quite nervous and in the end it was not enough to take the win. My legs were ok, but it is always hard in the first race to get back to this racing rhythm. For sure my sprint was not optimal today, but there is another chance for me here in Mallorca on Sunday.“ – Pascal Ackermann