Cold baldness and an icy feeling runs through the island these days. The countrymen of the place are not used to it, which has shrunk the atmosphere. Covered up to the teeth, in the thirty-two editions that the Challenge Tour of Majorcawe know that one in ten has to take out the winter arsenal.
The stages that have covered the entire northern mountain range, presided over by the imposing Serra de Tramuntana, a World Heritage Site, have not disappointed. The coastline, which has inspired hundreds of artists for its beauty, made it inevitable that cyclists who stand out when the asphalt looks at the sky become true pedal gladiators. Each kilometer became an adage of the quintessential cycling values. Sacrifice, suffering, tenacity, perseverance and resistance in the face of adversity, build everything built in these days of winter cycling.
The great protagonist, without a doubt, Kobe Goossens. Who lying on the ground and shivering with cold after crossing the finish line exultantly was the spitting image of all that was mentioned.
The stage that ascended to the longest accessible port of Mallorca, the Puig Major, with its fourteen kilometers of ascent selected the group of chosen ones. And as he told, the harshness of the weather was relentless, transforming into cramps and various collapses, some of them notable.
With this scenario the Belgian was preparing his rise Kobe Goossens. It is easy to think that his nationality helped him in the face of such inclement weather, although he has denied the easy deduction. The truth is that this cyclist has known how to take advantage of contingencies and has opened his victories as a professional in a big way. Both were forged with the same strategy. Validating his good moment in the decisive kilometers, just over three from the finish line.
earning in tilea stage that was forced to be modified due to the red alert for rain and snow decreed in Mallorcaand doing the same the day before in the Mirador des Colomer, Goossens and his team the Intermarchstand as absolute protagonists of the Challenge coldest in recent times. Winners of three of the four, the Belgians, who have already become stubborn stage hunters in 2022, have the opportunity to put the finishing touch to the triumphant week with the Eritrean Biniyam Girmay. One of the great favorites to win in the sprint that will have the Majorca Cathedral of admirable wallpaper.
