Team Sky's Ben Swift finished third in his first race of the season, the Trofeo Palma, on Sunday as Madison-Genesis produced a respectable performance on their international debut.
Lotto-Belisol's Kenny de Haes sprinted to take the win in the first of four one-day races that make up the Challenge Majorca event. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) finished second, with Swift close behind in third.
Alex Peters was the highest-placed Madison rider in the race, finishing 23rd. Earlier on in the day, Sebastian Bayliss attacked out of the peloton in an attempt to catch a two-man breakaway group of Perrig Quémeneur (Europcar) and Francisco Moreno (Caja Rural), who were subsequently caught before the finish.
Despite a frantic, crash-filled final lap of the circuit race around the Palma seafront, Bradley Wiggins survived unscathed on his first competitive outing of 2013. He was also awarded the day's combativity prize for his role in reeling into the two escapees.
Wiggins is expected to ride all four races that comprise Challenge Majorca, as are Jon Tiernan-Locke and Josh Edmondson, who made their Sky debuts in today's race. Tomorrow's installment, the Trofeo Campos, is likely to be another day for the sprinters.
Results
Challenge Majorca day one: Trofeo Palma, 116km
1. Kenny Dehaes (Bel) Lotto-Belisol in 2-39-07
2. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Sharp
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
3. Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky
4. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Merida
5. Francisco Jose Ventoso (Spa) Movistar
6. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar
7. Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis
8. Victor Manakov (Rus) Rusvelo
9. Yoeri Havik (Ned) Cyclingteam de Rijke-Shanks
10. Artur Ershov (Rus) Rusvelo
Other Brits
23. Alex Peters (GBr) Madison-Genesis
32. Dean Downing (GBr) Madison-Genesis
61. Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar
95. Liam Holohan (GBr) Madison-Genesis all at st.
127. Chris Snook (GBr) Madison-Genesis at 1-29
141. Brennan Townshend (GBr) Madison-Genesis
159. Josh Edmondson (GBr) Team Sky
161. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky all at st.
163. Jon Tiernan-Locke (GBr) Team Sky at 1-35
164. Ian Bibby (GBr) Madison-Genesis at st.
172. Sebastian Bayliss (GBr) Madison-Genesis at 3-53
Bradley Wiggins meets his fans
Madison-Genesis make their international debut
The riders head out
Bradley Wiggins
Palma Marina
Kenny De Haes wins
Ben Swift on the podium after coming third
Madison-Genesis rider Ian Bibby
Related links
Trofeo Palma photo gallery by Andy Jones
Madison-Genesis to make international debut in Majorca
Ben Swift: Rider Profile
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
