Italian cyclist Eleonora Gasparrini emerged victorious at the Trofeo Binissalem-Andratx, concluding the Challenge Mallorca Femenina with a win for her team, UAE Team ADQ. Gasparrini’s success came after an expertly executed lead-out by her teammate Silvia Persico, enabling her to outpace Noemi Rüegg in a thrilling sprint finish.
This series of women’s races, a first for the Challenge Mallorca organisation, followed closely on the heels of the men’s races on the Spanish island. The previous races, the Trofeo Felanitx-Colònia and Trofeo Palma Femina, were dominated by EF Education-Cannondale. However, in the final race, Trofeo Binissalem-Andratx, it was Gasparrini’s day to shine.
The race, covering a distance of just over 114 kilometres, featured several challenging climbs, including the ascent to Valldemossa and the Coll de S’Arracó. Despite the testing terrain, a sprint finish with a large group remained a strong possibility.
Three riders, Kathrin Schweinberger, Katharina Fox and Helena Bieber initiated an early breakaway. Their daring move saw them gain a significant lead of six minutes, but the peloton, confident in its control, did not react immediately.
The breakaway held strong for much of the race, but as the final climbs approached, Fox proved to be the strongest, breaking away from her companions. Despite her valiant effort, the chasing peloton, powered by several tempo increases, steadily closed the gap. Fox’s lead dwindled, and she was eventually caught with only five kilometres remaining.
As the race neared its conclusion, it was clear that a sprint finish was imminent. UAE Team ADQ took charge in the final kilometre, with Persico perfectly positioning Gasparrini for the sprint. Gasparrini took full advantage of this setup, overpowering Rüegg and securing a convincing victory.
Reflecting on her triumph, Gasparrini shared her elation, saying, “I am incredibly happy. Yesterday wasn’t a great day for me, but today was completely different. I felt in great form, and the team did an amazing job. A big thanks to all my teammates.”
This victory marks a significant moment for Gasparrini and represents the first road win of the season for Italian cycling. Her performance, alongside the top-ten finishes of fellow Italians Nadia Quagliotto and Alice Maria Arzuffi, highlights the strength and depth of Italian women’s cycling.
2024 Trofeo Binissalem-Andratx result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: EFE
