Vuelta a Mallorca
Encyclopedia
The Challenge Vuelta Ciclista a Mallorca (Tour of Majorca) is a series of five professional one day road bicycle races held on the Spanish
island of Mallorca
in early February. The event is used as an early season preparatory event by many of the top teams in readiness for the bigger races later in the season. The five races are ranked 1.1 on the UCI Europe Tour.
Although the race styles itself as the “Tour of Majorca” it has never been allowed to be classed as a multi day stage race by the sports governing body the Union Cycliste Internationale
(UCI) because the race rules allows riders not to participate on certain days if they don’t want to. However there is an unofficial overall classification winner taken on total time over five days. This laid back attitude by the race organisers makes the race popular with team managers who can bring a large squad (sometimes as many as 20 riders) and interchange them over the five days. Apart from the overall classification on time there are the usual Mountains, Points and Sprints competitions associated with any stage race. There is also a competition for the top Majorcan based rider, in the past this has been won by Vicente Reynès
, Antonio Colóm
and Antonio Tauler.
The first day of racing is the Trofeo Mallorca which is a criterium (circuit race) around the streets of Palma
. The second day is the Trofeo Cala Millor, sometimes called the Trofeo Alcúdia
. These two opening days are run over a fairly flat course and result in a sprint finish. The Trofeo Pollença
(day three) and Trofeo Sóller
(day four) are contested over a more hilly course using the climbs of the Col de Sóller (501 metres) and the Col de Puig Major (850 metres) amongst others on the route. These two hilly days usually decide the outcome of the unofficial overall classification over the five days. The final days racing is the Trofeo Calvià
which takes place on an undulating course over a series of small climbs.
Top class riders such as Laurent Jalabert
, Alex Zulle
and Alejandro Valverde
have won the overall classification at the Vuelta a Mallorca; however, Spanish rider Francesco Cabello who rode for the Kelme team throughout his career, holds the record for the most victories, taking three overall victories in Majorca in 1996, 2000 and 2002. In 2004 Colóm became the first rider who was a native of the island of Majorca to take the overall classification.
The Vuelta a Mallorca receives heavy sponsorship from Tourism section of the local Majorcan government (Govern de la Illes Balears). The race was first held in 1992 and for the first three years was just open to Spanish teams, however in 1995 foreign squads were invited for the first time with teams such as Telekom
and TVM
attending. In 1998 Léon van Bon of the Dutch Rabobank
squad became the first overall winner riding for a non Spanish team.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
island of Mallorca
Mallorca
Majorca or Mallorca is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the Balearic Islands.The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Cabrera Archipelago is administratively grouped with Majorca...
in early February. The event is used as an early season preparatory event by many of the top teams in readiness for the bigger races later in the season. The five races are ranked 1.1 on the UCI Europe Tour.
Although the race styles itself as the “Tour of Majorca” it has never been allowed to be classed as a multi day stage race by the sports governing body the Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
(UCI) because the race rules allows riders not to participate on certain days if they don’t want to. However there is an unofficial overall classification winner taken on total time over five days. This laid back attitude by the race organisers makes the race popular with team managers who can bring a large squad (sometimes as many as 20 riders) and interchange them over the five days. Apart from the overall classification on time there are the usual Mountains, Points and Sprints competitions associated with any stage race. There is also a competition for the top Majorcan based rider, in the past this has been won by Vicente Reynès
Vicente Reynès
Vicente Reynès Mimo is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam .-Palmarès:2003 - L.A.-Pecol2004 - Illes Balears-Banesto2005 - Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne*Paris–Nice, Stage 3...
, Antonio Colóm
Antonio Colom
Antonio Colom Mas is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer from Bunyola. He is a specialist in short stage races, having won the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana in 2006, the Vuelta a Mallorca in 2004 and the Vuelta a Andalucía in 2002....
and Antonio Tauler.
The first day of racing is the Trofeo Mallorca which is a criterium (circuit race) around the streets of Palma
Palma de Mallorca
Palma is the major city and port on the island of Majorca and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. The names Ciutat de Mallorca and Ciutat were used before the War of the Spanish Succession and are still used by people in Majorca. However, the official name...
. The second day is the Trofeo Cala Millor, sometimes called the Trofeo Alcúdia
Alcúdia
Alcúdia is a municipality and township of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands.It is the main tourist centre in the North of Majorca. It is a large resort popular with families.Most of the hotels are located in Port d'Alcúdia and Platja d'Alcúdia along the 14 km long beach that...
. These two opening days are run over a fairly flat course and result in a sprint finish. The Trofeo Pollença
Pollença
Pollença is a town and municipality situated in the far north corner of the island of Majorca, near Cap de Formentor and Alcúdia. It lies about 6 km west of its port, Port de Pollença.-History:...
(day three) and Trofeo Sóller
Sóller
Sóller is a town and municipality near the north west coast of Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands of Spain. The town is some 3km inland, from the Port de Sóller, in a large, bowl-shaped valley that also includes the village of Fornalutx and the hamlets of Biniaraix and Binibassi. The combined...
(day four) are contested over a more hilly course using the climbs of the Col de Sóller (501 metres) and the Col de Puig Major (850 metres) amongst others on the route. These two hilly days usually decide the outcome of the unofficial overall classification over the five days. The final days racing is the Trofeo Calvià
Calvià
Calvià is a municipality on the island of Majorca, part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It is located in the southwestern part of the island of Majorca, between the Serra de Tramuntana and the Serra de Na Burguesa. The municipal seat is the town of Vila Calvia.Calvià...
which takes place on an undulating course over a series of small climbs.
Top class riders such as Laurent Jalabert
Laurent Jalabert
Laurent Jalabert is a French former professional road racing cyclist, from 1989 to 2002. Affectionately known as "Jaja" , he won many one-day and stage races and was ranked number 1 in the 1990s...
, Alex Zulle
Alex Zülle
Alex Zülle is a Swiss former professional road bicycle racer. During the 1990s he was one of the best cyclists in the world, winning the Vuelta a España twice and taking the second place in 1999 Tour de France. He was world time-trial champion in Lugano in 1996.-Early career:Zülle was born and...
and Alejandro Valverde
Alejandro Valverde
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte is a Spanish road racing cyclist currently under suspension. He last rode for UCI ProTour team . Valverde's biggest wins have been the 2009 Vuelta a España, the Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2006, 2008 and 2006 UCI ProTour series championship...
have won the overall classification at the Vuelta a Mallorca; however, Spanish rider Francesco Cabello who rode for the Kelme team throughout his career, holds the record for the most victories, taking three overall victories in Majorca in 1996, 2000 and 2002. In 2004 Colóm became the first rider who was a native of the island of Majorca to take the overall classification.
The Vuelta a Mallorca receives heavy sponsorship from Tourism section of the local Majorcan government (Govern de la Illes Balears). The race was first held in 1992 and for the first three years was just open to Spanish teams, however in 1995 foreign squads were invited for the first time with teams such as Telekom
T-Mobile Team
HTC-Highroad is a professional cycling team competing in international road bicycle races. Their current title sponsor is HTC Corporation, a Taiwanese manufacturer of smartphones. High Road Sports is the management company of team manager Bob Stapleton. Past title sponsors include Columbia...
and TVM
TVM (cycling team)
TVM was a Dutch road bicycle racing team. It folded in 2000, two years after suffering a doping scandal. Farm Frites continued as a sponsor in 2001 with the new team, .-Names:-Riders:...
attending. In 1998 Léon van Bon of the Dutch Rabobank
Rabobank (cycling)
Rabobank is a professional bicycle racing team, sponsored by the Rabobank. The team consists of three sections: ProTeam , Continental , and Cyclo-cross...
squad became the first overall winner riding for a non Spanish team.
Winner of the "Unofficial" General Classification
| Year | Winner | Nationality | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Javier Murguialday Javier Murguialday Javier Murguialday Chasco is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer, who won one stage in the 1992 Tour de France.- Palmarès :19851992- External links :*... |
||
| 1993 | Laurent Jalabert | ||
| 1994 | David García David García (cyclist) David García Dapena is a retired Spanish professional road bicycle racer.During the 2010 Vuelta a España he tested positive for EPO. A later sample also tested positive for HES. The Spanish Cycling Federation subsequently banned him for 2 years, effective October 6, 2010, and declared his results... |
||
| 1995 | Alex Zulle Alex Zülle Alex Zülle is a Swiss former professional road bicycle racer. During the 1990s he was one of the best cyclists in the world, winning the Vuelta a España twice and taking the second place in 1999 Tour de France. He was world time-trial champion in Lugano in 1996.-Early career:Zülle was born and... |
||
| 1996 | Francisco Cabello | ||
| 1997 | Laurent Jalabert Laurent Jalabert Laurent Jalabert is a French former professional road racing cyclist, from 1989 to 2002. Affectionately known as "Jaja" , he won many one-day and stage races and was ranked number 1 in the 1990s... |
||
| 1998 | Léon van Bon Léon van Bon Léon Hendrik Jan van Bon is a road racing cyclist from the Netherlands, who won the silver medal in the men's points race at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He won his first major race at the professionals in 1998, winning the HEW Cyclassics... |
||
| 1999 | José Luis Rebollo | ||
| 2000 | Francisco Cabello | ||
| 2001 | Mathew Hayman Mathew Hayman Mathew Hayman is an Australian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Hayman is an experienced and respected domestique, as he typically takes on a supporting role within his team.-Palmares:1996... |
||
| 2002 | Francisco Cabello Francisco Cabello Francisco Cabello Luque was a Spanish professional road bicycle racer from 1990 to 2006.- Palmarès :19921994... |
||
| 2003 | Alejandro Valverde | ||
| 2004 | Antonio Colóm | ||
| 2005 | Alejandro Valverde Alejandro Valverde Alejandro Valverde Belmonte is a Spanish road racing cyclist currently under suspension. He last rode for UCI ProTour team . Valverde's biggest wins have been the 2009 Vuelta a España, the Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2006, 2008 and 2006 UCI ProTour series championship... |
||
| 2006 | David Bernabeu David Bernabeu Vicente David Bernabeu Armengol is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer.- Palmarès :2002... |
||
| 2007 | Luis León Sánchez Luis León Sánchez Luis León Sánchez Gil is a Spanish road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He is also known as Lulu Sanchez. He rode for team Liberty Seguros-Würth from 2004 until 2006, when he moved to the Caisse d'Epargne team following the collapse of the Liberty Seguros-Würth team in the wake of the Operación... |
||
| 2008 | Philippe Gilbert Philippe Gilbert Philippe Gilbert is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Gilbert is a classics specialist... |
||
| 2009 | Antonio Colom Antonio Colom Antonio Colom Mas is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer from Bunyola. He is a specialist in short stage races, having won the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana in 2006, the Vuelta a Mallorca in 2004 and the Vuelta a Andalucía in 2002.... |
||
Winners by Nationality
| # of Victories | Country |
|---|---|
| 12 | |
| 2 | |
| 1 | |
| 1 | |
| 1 | |
| 1 | |