Stage 1 - February 3: Circuito Palma Mallorca, 82.5 km

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Surprise victory for Galvez over Zabel

By Julia Walsh in Mallorca

Mapei and Telekom appeared to have it stitched up, but it was Spaniard Isaac Galvez (Kelme-Costa Blanca) who took the first stage of the Challenge Illes Balears, the 11th Tour of Mallorca, in a sprint showdown at Palma, on Sunday.

While the Italian and German teams had worked to set up pre-race favourites Oscar Freire (Spain) and Erik Zabel respectively for the stage win, Galvez found himself in a good position in the final run to the line to score from Zabel and Thorsten Wilheilms of Team Coast.

It was a great start for former world track champion Galvez, who has been with Kelme for the past three years and is now targeting the Giro d'Italia.

The 25-year-old from Catalunia, Spain has focused on losing weight and adding more endurance to his training this season.

Perfect Mediterranean weather reigned over the 82km race contested by 178
riders on an out and back circuit along the beautiful Palma Bay. About half the field are riding just for fitness at this early stage in the year.

Telekom and Mapei dominated from the start, but the new team Itera - which consists of Russian track specialists - racked up the special sprints. Alexei Markov gained six points and his teammate, Denis Smyslov won two points.

The peleton stayed together for the entire race and the finish was left to the sprinters.

Eighteen teams including Euskaltel-Euskadi, Telekom, Rabobank, Domo Fram-Frites, Ibanesto, Kelme-Costa Blanca, Mapei Quick-Step and Once-Eroski are competing in this year's Challenge. Noticeably absent are teams from both Italy and France.

According to the pre-race press conference, key riders looking for an overall win include Angel Casero of Team Coast, Francisco (Paco) Cabello from Kelme, Joseba Beloki of ONCE and Erik Dekker of Rabobank.

This is a race where riders can choose which days to ride. Those who finish all five stages can vie for the overall classification.

According to the director sportif of Kelme, Vincente Belda, Galvez is in good form in preparation for the Giro to aid Oscar Sevilla (who is not racing but training in Mallorca for the week).

"In the past two years, we've been changing his schedule so that he does primarily road races," Belda said.

"I've lost more than 3 kg but I didn't lose much fast-twitch muscle," said Galvez.

At 5'9", he now weighs 71kg or 156 pounds. Galvez will continue his preparation with the Tour of Algarve, Luis Puis and other races in Spain before the Giro.

Zabel and Freire, looking tanned, fit and feeling well, were looking forward to the first race of the season.

"I'm using this race to assess my fitness," said Zabel. "I'll race the whole race and use it for fitness." With Ullrich at a training camp in South Africa, Zabel will race with nine other teammates including Mateo Fagnini, Rolf Aldag and Jan Schaffrath.

Today's race with be another flat stage covering 154km over the plains area of central Mallorca from Cala Rajada to Cala Millor.

Monday's second stage is 154.2km and includes a category 4 climb, 10km from the finish.

Results

1 Isaac Galvez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca              1.38.12 (48.879 km/h)
2 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Telekom
3 Thorsten Wilhelms (Ger) Team Coast
4 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Mapei-Quick-Step
5 Rudi Kemna (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
6 Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Quick-Step
7 Saulius Ruskys (Ltu) Gerolsteiner
8 Armin Kroniger (Ger) Team Nurnberger
9 Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Domo Farm-Frites
10 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Domo Farm-Frites
11 Igor Flores (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
12 Alexei Markov (Rus) Itera
13 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
14 Luca Paolini (Ita) Mapei-Quick-Step
15 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Coast
16 Robert Forster (Ger) Team Nurnberger
17 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Rabobank
18 Constantino Zaballa (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
19 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank
20 Olaf Pollack (Ger) Gerolsteiner
21 Oscar Freire (Spa) Mapei-Quick-Step
22 Gerben Lowik (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
23 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Rabobank
24 Werner Riebenbauer (Aut) Team Nurnberger
25 Francisco J. Cerezo (Spa) Team Csc Tiscali
26 Nacor Burgos (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
27 Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
28 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei-Quick-Step
29 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
30 Inigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
31 David Muņoz (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
32 Antonio Colon (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
33 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner
34 Bram Schmitz (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
35 Bart Voskamp (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
36 Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) Ibanesto.Com
37 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Phonak
38 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Ibanesto.Com
39 Andreas Klier (Ger) Team Telekom
40 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Mapei-Quick-Step
41 Bert Hiemstra (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
42 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team Csc Tiscali
43 Gonzalo Bayarri (Spa) Jazztel-Costa De Almeria
44 Elio Aggiano (Ita) Mapei-Quick-Step
45 Ivan Ramiro Parra (Col) Once-Eroski
46 Rafael Diaz (Spa) Once-Eroski
47 Konstantin Sivtsov (Blr) Itera
48 Richard Virenque (Fra) Domo Farm-Frites
49 Marcel Duijn (Ned) Rabobank
50 Abraham Olano (Spa) Once-Eroski
51 Matthe Pronk (Ned) Rabobank
52 Sergio Perez (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
53 Roberto Lozano (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
54 Steffen Weigold (Ger) Gerolsteiner
55 Pablo Fernandez (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
56 Jose Antonio Garrido (Spa) Jazztel-Costa De Almeria
57 Ruben Plaza (Spa) Ibanesto.Com
58 Paulo Barroso (Por) Milaneza Mss
59 Rui Miguel Sousa (Por) Milaneza Mss
60 Denis Smyslov (Rus) Itera
61 Jose Luis Rebollo (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
62 Benjamin Noval (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
63 Iker Camaņo (Spa) Phonak
64 Jose Cayetano Julia (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
65 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Itera
66 Alvaro Gonzalez (Spa) Once-Eroski
67 Unai Etxebarria (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi
68 Jorge Ferrio (Spa) Jazztel-Costa De Almeria
69 Julian Usano (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
70 Bas Vandooren (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
71 Rik Reinerink (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
72 Vladimir Autko (Blr) Itera
73 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Phonak
74 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) Domo Farm-Frites
75 Thijs Al (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
76 Harald Morscher (Aut) Team Nurnberger
77 Edouard Gritsoun (Rus) Itera
78 Renato Silva (Por) Milaneza Mss
79 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Itera
80 Angel Edo (Spa) Milaneza Mss
81 Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Telekom
82 Antonio Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
83 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank
84 David Etxebarria (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
85 Martin Rittsel (Swe) Team Csc Tiscali
86 Jose A. Pecharroman (Spa) Jazztel-Costa De Almeria
87 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) Ibanesto.Com
88 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Mapei-Quick-Step
89 Dario Gadeo (Spa) Jazztel-Costa De Almeria
90 Iban Herrero (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
91 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
92 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Phonak
93 Thorwald Veneberg (Ned) Rabobank
94 Jan Hruska (Cze) Once-Eroski
95 Tristan Hoffman (Ned) Team Csc Tiscali
96 Christian Werner (Ger) Team Nurnberger
97 Jan Schaffrath (Ger) Team Telekom
98 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Ibanesto.Com
99 Roy Sentjens (Ned) Rabobank
100 Denis Bertolini (Ita) Phonak
101 David Arroyo (Spa) Once-Eroski
102 Jav Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) Ibanesto.Com
103 Ronald Mutsaars (Ned) Rabobank
104 Angel Luis Casero (Spa) Team Coast
105 Victoriano Fernandez (Spa) Milaneza Mss
106 Sergio Villamil (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
107 Gerhard Trampusch (Aut) Mapei-Quick-Step
108 Juan Carlos Guillamon (Spa) Jazztel-Costa De Almeria
109 Alexander Serov (Rus) Itera
110 Arkadiusz Wojtas (Pol) Team Nurnberger
111 Pedro Diaz Lobato (Spa) Jazztel-Costa De Almeria
112 Rene Andrle (Cze) Once-Eroski
113 Sasa Sviben (Slo) Team Nurnberger
114 Denis Menchov (Rus) Ibanesto.Com
115 Francisco Jose Lara (Spa) Team Coast
116 Carlos Torrent (Spa) Jazztel-Costa De Almeria
117 Serguei Klimov (Rus) Itera
118 Geert Van Bondt (Bel) Team Csc Tiscali
119 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Domo Farm-Frites
120 Fabian De Waele (Bel) Mapei-Quick-Step
121 Jose Manuel Maestre (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
122 Joan Horrach (Spa) Milaneza Mss
123 Pedro Cardoso (Por) Milaneza Mss
124 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Once-Eroski
125 Henricus Knaven (Ned) Domo Farm-Frites
126 Juan Manuel Cuenca (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
127 Igor Gonzalez (Spa) Once-Eroski
128 Koldo Gil (Spa) Ibanesto.Com
129 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner
130 Alexei Kuznetsov (Rus) Itera
131 Christian Pfannberger (Aut) Team Nurnberger
132 Melchior Mauri (Spa) Milaneza Mss
133 Carlos Carneiro (Por) Milaneza Mss
134 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank
135 Tomi Kanto (Fin) Jazztel-Costa De Almeria
136 Marcelino Garcia (Spa) Team Csc Tiscali
137 Alex Zuelle (Swi) Team Coast
138 Matthias Buxhofer (Aut) Phonak
139 Cedric Fragniere (Swi) Phonak
140 Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Phonak
141 Lukas Zumsteg (Swi) Phonak
142 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Domo Farm-Frites
143 Jan Van Velzen (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus
144 Robert Bartko (Ger) Team Telekom
145 Fabian Jeker (Swi) Milaneza Mss
146 Andre Korff (Ger) Team Coast
147 Jose Luis Arrieta (Spa) Ibanesto.Com
148 Thomas Liese (Ger) Team Nurnberger
149 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team Csc Tiscali
150 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
151 Martin Garrido (Arg) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
152 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
153 Sebastian Wolski (Pol) Team Nurnberger
154 Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) Once-Eroski
155 Luis Perez (Spa) Team Coast
156 Aitor Osa (Spa) Ibanesto.Com
157 Torsten Schmidt (Ger) Gerolsteiner
158 Kai Hundertmarck (Ger) Team Telekom
159 Alexis Rodriguez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca
160 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Domo Farm-Frites
161 Chris Von Kleinsorgen (Ger) Team Coast
162 Gian Matteo Fagnini (Ita) Team Telekom
163 Malte Urban (Ger) Team Coast
164 Jose Luis Martinez (Spa) Jazztel-Costa De Almeria
165 Iker Flores (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
166 David Herrero (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
167 Ronny Scholz (Ger) Gerolsteiner
168 Volker Ordowski (Ger) Gerolsteiner
169 Rene Haselbacher (Aut) Gerolsteiner                  0.30
170 Marco Milesi (Ita) Domo Farm-Frites                  0.35
171 Sascha Henrix (Ger) Team Coast                       0.51
172 Massimo Strazzer (Ita) Phonak                        1.13
173 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                  1.42
174 Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Domo Farm-Frites                 2.08
 
Metas Volantes
 
Lap 2 - km 16
 
1 Thijs Al (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus                    3 pts
2 Remco Van Der Ven (Ned) Bankgiroloterij-Batavus           2
3 Antonio Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   1
 
Lap 6 - km 48
 
1 Antonio Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca                   3 pts
2 Antonio Colon (Spa) Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada             2
3 Konstantin Sivtsov (Blr) Itera                            1
 
Special sprints
 
1 David Kopp (Ger) Team Telekom                             1pt
 
Teams
 
1 Mapei-Quick-Step                                   4.54.36
2 Bankgiroloterij-Batabus
3 Kelme-Costa Blanca
4 Team Nurnberger
5 Rabobank
6 Gerolsteiner
7 Domo Farm-Frites
8 Euskaltel-Euskadi
9 Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
10 Itera
11 Team Telekom
12 Team Coast
13 iBanesto.com
14 ONCE-Eroski
15 Tiscali Team CSC
16 Jazztel-Costa De Almeria
17 Phonak
18 Milaneza MSS

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