Archie Ryan will line up for his first race of the season in Mallorca on Wednesday; the same event where his now EF Education-EasyPost team mate, Ben Healy, began his breakthrough 2023 with a bang.
Ireland's Ryan (21) put up some very aggressive climbing displays last year and took away a victory from his neo pro season; stage 4 at Coppi e Bartali (2.1) back in March.
In 2024 Ryan made his debut at Tour Down Under in Australia but has opted for an early season European programme this time around. He is expected to line out in several of the Mallorca races over the next week.
Tomorrow's event, Trofeo Calvià (1.1), is 149.6km starting and finishing in Palmanova. Though there are no major climbs, there are repeated more modest inclines and the race is typically an aggressive one and a wearing down process.
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That combination of repeated climbs, on a course that favours those willing and able to push on, should suit Ryan's style of racing. He would love to get a strong start to his 2025 campaign.
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The field is a good one, with the likes of in-form António Morgado set to compete alongside his impressive young Swiss team mate at UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Jan Christen. Morgado has already won Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana and finished 3rd in Gran Premi València at the weekend.
Also present are riders like Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team), Diego Ulissi (XDS Astana Team) and Gran Premi València winner, Marc Hirschi (Tudor Pro Cycling), among others.
Though there are four categorised climbs, the fireworks will likely begin on the final main ascent; the 3.4km Coll de sa Gramola, at 4.5 per cent gradient, which is crested 38km from the finish.
Though there is still a long way to go from that point, there follows a smaller 2.6km climb and the terrain is hard enough to ensure if a committed group gets clear on the Coll de sa Gramola it can stay away.
Healy was 3rd in the race in 2023, starting a run that included five wins, a stage of Giro d'Italia among them. And a good start in his opening race - though no means essential in Mallorca in January - may kickstart a similar run for Ryan.
