Megan Armitage is one of Irish cycling's new stars and the Co Offaly woman will be the first Irish rider in European pro race action this year. She gets her season underway in Mallorca tomorrow, Saturday.
After a breakthrough campaign last year, when she became the first Irish woman to win a UCI-ranked stage race, she now starts her three-year tenure with new team, EF Education-Cannondale.
She faces three races in quick succession, with two of those outings well-suited to her abilities on the climbs and where she could take a result.
Armitage gets the season underway tomorrow at the 128km, UCI 1.1-ranked, Trofeo Felanitx-Colònia de Sant Jordi, which is part of the Mallorca Challenge week of races.
Related News
The Irish rider will also be in action on Sunday and Monday in Trofeo Palma Femina (1.1) and Trofeo Binissalem-Andratx (1.1).
Advertisement
Tomorrow's race is almost pan flat and while there are two cat 4 climbs, they are very modest and the second one is crested just over 25km from the finish, meaning it is unlikely to prove decisive.
However, while a sprint finish looks like it's on the cards, early season races can split unexpectedly, especially if the wind whips up a little.
However, Sunday's Trofeo Palma Femina is much harder; at 139km and with four climbs in the final third, as well as a small kicker to the finish line. That is a course that could suit Armitage if she is bringing her A game to these early season events.
Monday sees the action continue in Mallorca, with Armitage lining out in Trofeo Binissalem-Andratx. At 114.3km, it offers a testing challenge as the second half of the race is hilly, with three climbs - cat 2, cat 3 and cat 4 - before a rise to the line in Andratx.
