André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) showed his rivals another clean pair of heels on Sunday, winning the bunch sprint at the end of the Trofeo Playa de Palma, the final day of the Challenge Mallorca.
Greipel's Lotto-Soudal squad took control of the race to set up the 33-year-old for the victory. Frenchman Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) was second, with Swiss rider Dylan Page (Team Roth) in third.
Irishman Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18) continued his solid early-season show with fourth place.
Andre Greipel wins day four of the Challenge Mallorca
(Image credit: Watson)
Andy Fenn (Team Sky) was the top-placed British rider in 17th place, as he came home in the bunch just behind Greipel.
Sir Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) completed his return to road racing in the event by finishing in 112th place at 37 seconds. Wiggins was using the relatively low-key nature of the racing to gain some condition ahead of the Dubai Tour, starting on Wednesday, and then the Track World Championships in London in March.
Greipel will next be in action in the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal over February 17-21, where he will be the man to beat in the fast finishes. His long-term season aim will be the Road World Championships in Qatar in October.
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Result
Trofeo Playa de Palma 2016 (Challenge Mallorca, day four): Playa de Palma to Palma, 161.5km
1. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Soudal
2. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis
3. Dylan Page (Swi) Team Roth
4. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18
5. Albert Torres (Spa) Spain
6. Jonas Vangenechten (Bel) IAM Cycling
7. Youcef Reguigui (Alg) Dimension Data
8. Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Cannondale Pro Cycling
9. Lorenzo Manzin (Fra) FDJ
10. Marc Sarreau (Fra) FDJ all same time
Beñat Intxausti and Michal Kwiatkowski
(Image credit: Graham Watson)
The peloton during the fourth day of the Challenge Mallorca
(Image credit: Watson)
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