Canadian cyclist Magdeleine Vallieres Mill secured her first professional win at the Trofeo Palma Femina, marking a remarkable two consecutive victories for the EF Education–Cannondale team in the Challenge Mallorca Femina after Noemi Rüegg’s win yesterday. Vallieres Mill’s triumph at this challenging race, featuring four significant climbs in the final 40 kilometres, comes as a significant achievement in her burgeoning career.
Reflecting on her victory, Vallieres expressed her joy and disbelief, saying, “I am so happy. I feel like I’m going to wake up and it’s just a dream.” The young Québécoise showcased her prowess on the Coll de Sa Creu, where she emerged at the front of an elite group of riders. Esra Tromp, the general manager of EF Education–Cannondale, had anticipated Vallieres’ strong performance based on her recent form and results.
During the descent of the Coll de Sa Creu, Vallieres took advantage of a crash by Silvia Persico to accelerate and establish a lead. Her exceptional descent skills allowed her to navigate the twisty and technical terrain, eventually creating a significant gap with only eight kilometres remaining. Vallieres credited her team’s support and collaborative effort throughout the race, saying, “Everyone worked so well and so hard together all day. It was my turn to be aggressive on the climbs and to try to read the race and see what I could do.”
Vallieres’ victory was not just a personal achievement but also a testament to the team’s overall strategy and preparation. Tromp emphasised the importance of using the races in Mallorca as learning experiences, stating, “We wanted to start our season in Mallorca, thinking this was a good chance to have a team camp and do some races where we could learn, find each other, communicate, to learn to race with each other and make mistakes. This only sets us up better for the rest of the season.”
The team’s success in Mallorca, with Vallieres’ win following Noemi Rüegg’s victory the previous day, underscores the positive dynamic within EF Education–Cannondale. Tromp highlighted this aspect, noting, “For Noemi yesterday, it was her first big win. And now for Mags, this is her first career win, so that builds confidence and I think there’s a really good vibe within the team.”
Behind Vallieres Mill, Mallorcan Mavi Garcia and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio battled it out for the podium spots with the South African claiming 2nd. Back in the chasing group, it was the Polish rider Marta Lach who sprinted to take 4th. A great result on this terrain for a rider known as a one-day race sprinter rather than a climber. After crashing, Silvia Persico got back on the bike to finish 5th, just ahead of Arkea’s Maeva Squiban.
2024 Trofeo Palma result
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