This Sunday 28th of January, Intermarché-Wanty concluded its stay on the island of Mallorca in the best possible way, by winning the Trofeo Mallorca, the fifth and last race of the Mallorca Challenge.
Positioned by his sprint train, launched by Adrien Petit and Laurenz Rex, Gerben Thijssen started his effort with 250 meter to go and could not be overtaken anymore. The triumph of Thijssen is the second success in three days for the Walloon World Team after the victory of Biniam Girmay in the Surf Coast Classic.
"What a pleasure to reward my teammates who controlled the whole race and launched me in a perfect way. Our plan was to wait for the final lap to go to the front with my train, which wasn't easy at all in the midst of the chaos. I followed Adrien Petit and asked Laurenz Rex to stay in my slipstream, in case he would be able to launch me in the final hectometers. Which he did to perfection. With such a lead out, I had confidence, I knew it would be difficult to pass me." "The team puts confidence in me, which was reflected in a fantastic team around me today to help me winning, a new train to enable me to make a step forward. This is also translated in a nice programme. I'm now heading to the Clasica de Almeria, then the Volta ao Algarve, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and Paris-Nice. This year I'll participate in the Giro with the ambition to win my first Grand Tour stage." "With this programme, my goal this season is to measure myself with the best sprinters in the world. I won four times last year against world class sprinters such as Caleb Ewan or Tim Merlier. I want to confirm in 2024 in World Tour races and I can rely on a solid sprint train, that's why I'm confident and determined."
