Evenepoel & Red Bull: Mallorca Team Time Trial

“It’s good for morale.” Remco Evenepoel made a successful debut with his new team Red Bull Bora by winning the team time trial of the Ses Salines Trophy, counting for the Mallorca Challenge, on Thursday in the Balearic Islands.

Taking strong relays, the three-time world time champion was decisive in the success of the German team which covered the 23.8 km in 23 min 55 sec at almost 60 km/h on average. Red Bull Bora, which also included Florian Lipowitz, third in the last Tour de France, beat the Movistar, Jayco-AlUla and UAE teams by 4, 17 and 19 seconds respectively.

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“It went well, it wasn’t a difficult course considering the difference in altitude but a team time trial is always very hard. It’s nice to start the season with a victory, it’s good for morale”commented Evenepoel.

Spectacular and meticulous effort

This unprecedented collective time in the Majorca Challenge, which offers five races in five days until Sunday, was eagerly awaited since the exercise will be on the program for the first stage of the Tour de France on July 4 in Barcelona. The prospect of being able to practice this spectacular and precise team effort has therefore attracted a lot of people to the Balearic Islands, including also the Swiss Stefan Küng, fifth with his new Tudor team.

Evenepoel felt that he was «difficile» to draw conclusions since “each course is different”. “But we were close to perfection today, it already makes you want to be at the Tour”added the Belgian who must also participate in the Serra de Tramuntana Trophy on Friday and undoubtedly also in the Andratx-Pollença Trophy on Saturday.