Tour podium finishers all to compete in early-season events
The top three riders in last year’s Tour de France will all feature as part of an impressive line-up in next year’s Challenge Mallorca events, with Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) and the Schleck brothers Andy and Frank (Leopard Trek/RadioShack Nissan) each being confirmed for the races.
Evans will head a strong BMC Racing Team line-up in the events, which comprise five one day races run on consecutive days. Competitors can pick and choose which races to ride, enabling teams to bring very large teams to the island.
They typically hold training camps there around the time of the Challenge Mallorca races, benefiting from what is traditionally very mild weather.
According to the organisers, Evan’s BMC Racing Team lineup will comprise Brent Bookwalter, Marcus Burghardt, Steve Cummings, Yannick Eijssen, Matthias Frank, Amaël Moinard, Steve Morabito, Marco Pinotti, Manuel Quinziato, Mauro Santambrogio, Johann Tschopp, Ivan Santaromita and the American talent Tejay Van Garderen.
Together with their team management, these riders will decide which of the Mallorca Challenge races to compete in.
The series was reportedly facing financial difficulties but it appears that these have been successfully resolved. Other squads confirmed as taking part are Omega Pharma Quick-Step, Lotto-Belisol, Katusha Team, Rabobank, Team Sky, Cofidis and NetApp.
Greg Van Avermaet and former world champion Alessandro Ballan will lead the BMC Racing Team in the earlier Santos Tour Down Under.