After three wins in the first four races of the Challenge Mallorca, the team also claimed the Palma finale, with Arne Marit winning and teammate Alessio Magagnotti completing the double podium.
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe capped off a dominant week at the Challenge Mallorca with a sprint victory in the Trofeo Palma (Marratxí › Palma, 158.3 km). In a race perfectly suited to the fast men, Arne Marit (Belgium) delivered the team’s fourth victory in five races, ahead of Max Kanter (Germany, XDS Astana Team), while Marit’s Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe teammate Alessio Magagnotti (Italy) finished third.
As the race approached Palma, Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe stayed well positioned in the peloton, helping to keep the situation under control behind an attacking group that had animated the race for much of the day. The break was finally brought back just a few kilometres from the finish. A crash in the closing kilometres, however, disrupted several lead-out trains and reshaped the sprint, but the team reacted decisively.
Arne Marit made the most of the situation, launching his sprint at the right moment and powering to victory, while young teammate Alessio Magagnotti stayed right behind to secure third place. The result marked Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe’s fourth victory in five days – following the team time trial win earlier in the week and Remco Evenepoel’s back-to-back victories in the two mountainous races – and capped off a perfect start to the European race season for the team.
The crash in the final corner changed the situation completely, so I made a quick decision to go all in and from 300 metres out it was full gas. To end the week with four wins in five races is amazing for the whole team. Personally, after three years without a victory, this one means a lot to me. And finishing with Alessio on the podium as well is special – he’s a young rider with huge talent.
— Arne Marit
This was a perfect race for us. The beginning was calm, but we knew the key point was the U-turn with 2.4 kilometres to go. The boys positioned themselves exactly as planned, and Arne finished it off in an incredible way. To have Alessio third as well is just outstanding. It’s the perfect way to close such a successful week.
— Pello Olaberria, Sports Director
