John Degenkolb opened his season with a victory, sprinting to the win in the first day of the Challenge Cyclista Mallorca from Campos to Ses Salines.
Trek-Segafredo surrounded Degenkolb with a team of Classics and lead-out specialists for the 178-kilometer race, giving the German sprinter the support he needed for a much-needed win with his last almost a year ago in the Dubai Tour.
“It’s a great feeling to get the first victory already, to achieve this together with the team,” Degenkolb explained to journalists shortly after the finish. “We had a really nice week of training already this week in Mallorca, in the training camp, and to start the season like this with a win is always great.
“I felt really good; the team did a perfect job to make a good sprint for me. I have good memories of this race because for me this was my first professional race in 2011. Today was a great revival.”
Degenkolb!!! El sprínter del @TrekSegafredo gana en Ses Salines!!! @johndegenkolb pic.twitter.com/Ohubha1Mpv
— ChallengeMallorca (@ChallengeMca) January 25, 2018
Trofeo Campos-Porreres-Felanitx-Ses Salines results:
| 1 | John Degenkolb (Trek – Segafredo) | 4:02:18 |
| 2 | Sondre Enger (Israel Cycling Academy) | ,, |
| 3 | Jasper De Buyst (Lotto Soudal) | ,, |
| 4 | Kenny Dehaes (WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic) | ,, |
| 5 | Albert Torres (Spain) | ,, |
| 6 | Xavier Cañellas (Spain) | ,, |
| 7 | Daniele Bennati (Movistar) | ,, |
| 8 | Erik Baska (Bora – hansgrohe) | ,, |
| 9 | Leonardo Basso (Team Sky) | ,, |
| 10 | Aaron Grosser (Team Sauerland) | ,, |
