Challenge Mallorca firmly defends itself amidst recent criticism: "We were not given the option of plan B nor do we owe money to anyone"
Cycling
The 2025 edition of the Challenge Mallorca series is already part of the history books. Unfortunately though, this one did not go the way everyone would have liked. After some spectacular races, the Trofeo Andratx was suspended at the decision of the riders, which ended with a series of accusations against the race organization.
For that reason, Challenge Mallorca itself have contacted our Spanish sister channel CiclismoAlDía to respond to all these accusations from José Joaquín Rojas, sport director of Movistar Team, Adam Hansen, head of the rider's union, and Rory Sutherland, a former cyclist who has claimed that the organization owes money to the riders for the 2023 edition.
First of all, it all started with Manuel Hernandez, director of the Challenge Mallorca, who made it known that the suspension of the race was solely the decision of the riders due to "dangerous conditions". This provoked the anger of an organization that works throughout the year for these 5 races, citing a perceived lack of respect.
Later, José Joaquín Rojas, sport director of Movistar Team, accused the organization of the Challenge Mallorca series of not being present on the road to meet the requests of the cyclists. In addition, Adam Hansen, head of the CPA, stated that they were open to continuing the race with a plan B. On this, the Challenge Mallorca clarifies the following: "It is not true what Mr. José Joaquín Rojas says, since both the Technical Director of the race and the General Director were in the race and were not given any option to make a plan B".
Regarding the harsh accusations of former cyclist Rory Sutherland, the organization also categorically denies that this is true: "The Challenge Mallorca does not owe money to anyone. If it were true the International Cycling Union (UCI) would not have let him do the race the following year. Mr. Sutherland, apart from lying, demonstrates his cycling ignorance."
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📹 Resumn #TrofeuPalma
— ChallengeMallorca (@ChallengeMca) February 2, 2025
📹 Highlights #TrofeuPalma @gardenhotels @TurismeBalears @MallorcaTourism @ajuntpalma @unisportprensa pic.twitter.com/i4GlHe2Ftv
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling for
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- People see what they want to. I am actually the opposite of your accusation, probably more of a rebel than most of you who don’t get the big picture. The difference is, I don’t go moaning publicly about the consequences of my transgressions, I understand the need for rules and I take my OWN responsibility when deciding to ignore or break them or doing so involuntarily. I will also not hesitate to state my case or argue vehemently when relevant, sometimes it works, sometimes it makes things worse but that’s the price to pay for principles and having character.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- That may be but that was unknown to others and nothing says that’s the whole truth. Again, don’t try to misinterpret, it is a call and technically it is correct. Besides, even if there is a valid reason, that does not disqualify the ruling or punishment as far as the rules have been developed. I don’t think they’re as far as in football where for handball there is a distinction (in some ways and specific cases) between intentional or not. And football can be just as harsh and people live with it, eg the offside rule, also judged to within tiny fractions but often wrong or ignored. It’s the nature of every collective organisation and sometimes I wonder if our rebellion against it isn’t seated in the feelings we carry from the injustices we’ve felt personally, like being flashed driving 1km/h too fast when we are explained limits are just a security measure but we are absolutely certain not to have endangered anyone with our transgression. The problem is, nobody has better solutions and no 2 people have the same interpretation of where a limit should be.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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