Challenge Mallorca #1: 6th Sofie van Rooijen

The first race of the Challenge Mallorca Femenina marked the debut for the team in Europe, with Sofie van Rooijen securing an encouraging 6th place in the sprint finish of the 129.1 km Trofeo Marratxi-Felanitx.

This race served as the season’s first opportunity for the newly assembled sprint squad to gel and test their lead-out dynamics ahead of the year’s major objectives. The riders showed great determination and a strong sense of teamwork throughout the day.

The team, composed of Elynor Backstedt, Lara Gillespie, Tereza Neumanova, Safiya Alsayegh, and Federica Venturelli, worked effectively to close down the day’s breakaway in the final kilometers. They also succeeded in positioning Van Rooijen well for the hectic finale.

The sprint finish was chaotic, with a tense and unpredictable atmosphere leading to a hard-fought victory for Finland’s Lotta Henttala (EF Education-Oatly). Despite the challenging conditions, Van Rooijen crossed the line in 6th place, showing promise for the races to come.

The team now looks ahead to the next two races of the Challenge Mallorca Femenina, which will provide further opportunities.

MARRATXI, SPAIN – JANUARY 25: Safia Alsayegh of United Arab Emirates, Elynor Backstedt of The United Kingdom, Lara Gillespie of Ireland, Tereza Neumanova of Czech Republic, Sofie Van Rooijen of The Netherlands, Federica Venturelli of Italy and UAE Team ADQ prior to the 2nd Challenge Femenino Ciclista Mallorca 2025 – Trofeo Marratxi – Felanitx a 129.1km one day race from Marratxi to Felanitx on January 25, 2025 in Marratxi, Spain. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

26/01/2025

Trofeo Palma Femina (1.1)

Palma – Castell de Bellver (129.5 km)

Start: 10:15 – Finish: 14:00 CET

Live on discovery+/Eurosport from 13:00 CET

 

LINE UP: Eleonora Gasparrini, Silvia Persico, Alena Ivanchenko, Francesca Pellegrini, Eilidh Shaw, Paula Blasi.

 

Sports Directors: Alejandro Gonzalez-Tablas and Cristina San Emeterio.

 

27/01/2025

Trofeo Binissalem-Andratx (1.1)

Binissalem – Port d’Andratx (107.5 km)

Start: 13:05 – Finish: 16:00 CET

Live on discovery+/Eurosport from 15:00 CET

 

LINE UP: Eleonora Gasparrini, Silvia Persico, Alena Ivanchenko, Federica Venturelli, Amalia Debarges, Paula Blasi.

 

Sports Directors: Alejandro Gonzalez-Tablas and Cristina San Emeterio.