Biniam Girmay wins Trofeo Alcudia

This Thursday, Eritrean Biniam Girmay offered the first success of the season for Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux, dominating a sprint of strong men on the Trofeo Alcudia (1.1, 27/01), the second one-day race of the Mallorca Challenge. Girmay, 21, concluded the formidable teamwork of the men led by Aike Visbeek and Pieter Vanspeybrouck, who took responsibility for the race from the first kilometers.

The Belgian World Team thus participated in the chase behind the morning breakaway of three riders, controlling a gap which peaked at almost five minutes. The difficult climb of Coll de Sa Batalla (8.7 km at 5%), located 50 kilometers from the finish, represented the main threat for a sprint finish. Surrounded by his teammates, Girmay managed to climb to the top with a heavily skimmed peloton, accompanied by Loïc Vliegen.

Despite late attempts to avoid the sprint, it’s a small peloton that shared the honors in Port d'Alcudia, in the northeast of the island. The vice-world champion U23 Girmay came up from the left, thanks to a powerful effort, to reach the line ahead of his opponents and offer the first victory of 2022 for the team on the second day of racing.

Biniam Girmay Hailu:
"I am overwhelmed by this victory and the euphoria of all members of the team! It's really nice to start the season like this and to continue our fantastic winning spirit from last fall. I started the year with a lot of confidence, but it's fantastic that I was able to beat some of the world's best sprinters here in my second day of racing."

Trofeo Alcudia:
1.Biniam Girmay Hailu 3:50:48
2.Ryan Gibbons
3.Giacomo Nizzolo
38.Loïc Vliegen
90.Barnabás Peák +2:40
109.Adrien Petit +2:43
110.Andrea Pasqualon
111.Alexander Kristoff
DNF Laurens Huys