CYCLING: Trofeo Palma Challenge 2026 (SPA)

Spain 01 Feb 2026 Class 1.1 – 1 day – Class 1

Website https://vueltamallorca.com/challenge-mallorca/

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The Trofeo Palma (historically known as the Trofeo Mallorca) is the traditional closing act of the Challenge Mallorca, a unique series of five independent one-day races held on the Spanish island of Mallorca.

Because it takes place in late January or early February, it is legendary as the “early bird” race where the world’s best sprinters test their winter legs in the Mediterranean sun.

1. A Unique Format (The “Challenge”)

Unlike a traditional stage race (like the Tour de France), the Challenge Mallorca is an “umbrella” event.

• The “Pick-and-Choose” Rule: Teams can swap their entire roster of riders from one day to the next.
• Independent Victories: Since 2010, the UCI has classified each day as a separate 1.1 category race. A rider can win the Trofeo Palma without having started the mountain trophies earlier in the week.

2. The Evolution of the Palma Trophy

• 1992 Inauguration: The race began as the Trofeo Mallorca, primarily a flat circuit race around the capital city of Palma.
• The Sprinter’s World Cup: For decades, it was the unofficial “Sprinter’s World Championship” of the early season. If you wanted to see who had the best lead-out train for the coming year, you watched the finish on the Palma boulevard.
• Name Changes: Over the years, sponsorship has changed the name to Trofeo Playa de Palma, Trofeo Palma de Mallorca, and currently the Trofeo Palma.

3. The 2026 Edition: A Historic Week

As of today, February 1, 2026, the Trofeo Palma has just concluded, marking a historic shift for the Challenge Mallorca.

• The 2026 Winner: Belgian sprinter Arne Marit (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) took the victory today in a chaotic bunch sprint, beating Max Kanter.
• Red Bull Dominance: This capped off a “perfect week” for the newly rebranded Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe team, who won 4 out of the 5 trophies this week (including the first-ever Team Time Trial in the race’s history and two solo wins by Remco Evenepoel).
• The Crash: The final kilometers were marred by a small crash that took the pre-race favorite, Dylan Groenewegen, out of contention.

4. Legends of the Trofeo Palma

The roll of honor for this specific trophy reads like a “Who’s Who” of the greatest sprinters in cycling history:

• Erik Zabel: The German legend dominated the late 90s with multiple wins.
• Oscar Freire: The three-time World Champion won it in 2000, 2005, and 2007.
• Robbie McEwen: The Australian fast-man took the title in 2010.
• Modern Speedsters: André Greipel, Marcel Kittel, and John Degenkolb all used this race as a launchpad for successful seasons.

Summary of Recent Winners