Preview Trofeo Calvia 2026 - Scaroni, Matthews and Morgado headline opening Challenge Mallorca race
CyclingTuesday, 27 January 2026 at 22:01
The Trofeo Calvia is the first out of the Challenge Mallorca races and takes place on the 28th of January, starting at 12:25CET and finishing at 16:05CET. We preview the race ahead.
The Trofeo Calvià is one of the most traditional early-season one-day races on the European calendar, kicking off the professional road season on the sun-soaked island of Mallorca each January as part of the Challenge Mallorca. First held in the early 1990s, the race has evolved into a key 1.1-rated event on the UCI Europe Tour and has served as a proving ground for classics specialists and rising stars alike.
Over the years the course has seen many names and slight route tweaks, but the essence remains the same: a demanding loop around Calvià with punchy terrain that rewards aggressive riding and tactical prowess, often. The past decade has continued that tradition of varied winners. In 2021, South African sprinter Ryan Gibbons took the win, while the then-rising American Brandon McNulty produced a memorable long solo move to win in 2022. Portugal’s Rui Costa added his name in 2023 with a fast finish from a select group; In 2024 Simon Carr took the victory for EF Education-EasyPost whilst 2025 saw UAE Team Emirates - XRG's Jan Christen take his fourth pro win also with a solo attack.
This is a 'roller-coaster' race, with 2800 meters of climbing in only 148 kilometers. It starts and finishes in the town of Palmanova and although it does not feature any major climb, the sequence of small ascents is constant and doesn't allow for an organized style of racing. Instead, the explosive course favours attackers, whilst the race can both be won by a small peloton, small group, or often a solo attacker who manages to take advantage of the climbs and also the technical descents.
Profile: Almanova - Almanova
Almanova - Almanova, 148 kilometers
Prediction Trofeo Calvia 2026:
*** Christian Scaroni, Michael Matthews
** António Morgado, Jon Barrenetxea, Pavel Sivakov
* Jon Barrenetxea, Carlos Canal, Lukas Nerurkar, Andrea Vendrame, Magnus Cort Nielsen, Clément Champoussin, Marc Hirschi
** António Morgado, Jon Barrenetxea, Pavel Sivakov
* Jon Barrenetxea, Carlos Canal, Lukas Nerurkar, Andrea Vendrame, Magnus Cort Nielsen, Clément Champoussin, Marc Hirschi
Pick: Christian Scaroni
How: Small group sprint.
Original: Rúben Silva
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- Perhaps they were closer to start with? But the rider who simply offered his help was gracious about Jonas reacting with annoyance to him.Hills3327-01-2026
- I watched the video on Twitter (X): the amateur cyclist was not on his wheel; at all. There was more than 100-150 meters between them. Maybe Jonas overreacted?
maria2024202427-01-2026 - Then another cyclist's offer of help was brushed away. It is not hard to empathise with Jonas, whose ride was ruined. But I can't help wondering if the journalists who are now asking amateurs to stay away from all top riders would have been as understanding if the top rider involved was Pogacar.Hills3327-01-2026
- His anger wasn't justified? What kind of a thought is that? The few times I've crashed I can't remember getting up and saying " Gee that was fun I think I'll do that again".Bianchiboy7127-01-2026
- I don't want some random jackass coming out of nowhere and sucking my wheel on a fast, technical descent either.mrvco27-01-2026
- That kit is hideously ugly. They're not seriously going out in public looking like that are they?megasmacky27-01-2026
- This is absurd.A multi millionaire pro training on the same road as joe average? Really.And secondly training without your teamates surrounding you or near you? Really? If you throw caution and safety to the wind like that you get whatever happens on the road.Wake up Visma and protect your greatest asset.Nonsense.
Brucegel27-01-2026 - I don't understand very well, did Vingegaard get annoyed, try to escape the amateur cyclist, and slip? was that the crash dynamic?maria2024202427-01-2026
- Amateur riders are in their glory when given the opportunity to ride alongside (or behind) pro cyclists who are out training, but I'm sure that feeling is not mutual amongst the pros. The comments made after the fact by the amateur rider in question in the Vingegaard incident seem to show a complete lack of sensitivity and lack of respect for a professional athlete out on the road training. I don't think that you can blame Jonas at all for being angry or upset about it.
santiagobenites27-01-2026 - This gives Princess Diana vibes. You are responsible for what you do. If your actions due to speeding cause injury or worse to self or another, you will be held responsible. While amateurs need to give space to faster riders, Pros also need to be mindful that its not their private training spotabstractengineer27-01-2026
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