19-year-old Aristi making waves at Mallorca

Equipo Euskadi youngster Mikel Aristi was active off the front in his very first professional race at the Trofeo Palma on Sunday.

The 19-year-old teamed up with Equipo Euskadi in the off-season after just a solitary year at the sub-23 level, and has consequently been labelled a future star in the making. He showed what all the talk is about at the Trofeo Palma, the first of the four standalone one-day races that make up the Challenge Mallorca, on Sunday, breaking clear of the peloton for the majority of the day.

Europcar's Perrig Quemeneur was the day's main escape artist, staying out ahead for some 80 clicks. Caja Rural's Fran Moreno tried to give chase for a while but was hindered by a puncture, before young Aristi decided to give it a go among stars he could only have dreamed about riding alongside a few months ago.

The erstwhile Debabarrena protégé was eventually reeled in, but did more than enough to raise eyebrows and put his name out there. The anticipated sprint finish materialized in Palma, with Lotto-Belisol's Kenny Dahaes somewhat surprisingly besting more fancied powerhouses Tyler Farrar and Ben Swift.

Fellow Equipo Euskadi debutant Unai Iparragirre tried to mix it up with the big boys and eventually crossed the line in 16th.

On a day in which Euskaltel were comprehensively out-shone by their affiliate team, Steffen Radochla was the orange team's top rider in 21st. Stars Igor Antón and Mikel Landa all got safely through their first race of the young season.

Results (full results here):

• (1, Kenny Dahaes (Lotto-Belisol), 2:39:07)
• 16, Unai Iparragirre (Equipo Euskadi), s.t.
• 20, Carlos Barbero (Equipo Euskadi), s.t.
• 21, Steffen Radochla (Euskaltel Euskadi), s.t.
• 35, Jon Larrinaga (Equipo Euskadi), s.t.
• 38, Juan José Oroz (Euskaltel Euskadi), s.t.
• 43, Haritz Orbe (Equipo Euskadi), s.t.
• 46, Jon Aberasturi (Euskaltel Euskadi), s.t.
• 50, Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel Euskadi), s.t.
• 66, Gorka Verdugo (Euskaltel Euskadi), s.t.
• 75, Igor Antón (Euskaltel Euskadi), s.t.
• 81, Mikel Landa (Euskaltel Euskadi), 0:10
• 87, Illart Zuazubiskar (Equipo Euskadi), 0:18
• 88, Mikel Iturria (Equipo Euskadi), s.t.
• 93, Miguel Minguez (Euskaltel Euskadi), 0:49
• 129, Aritz Bagües (Equipo Euskadi), 1:29
• 133, Igor Merino (Equipo Euskadi), s.t.
• 134, Mikel Bizkarra (Equipo Euskadi), s.t.
• 149, Gorka Izagirre (Euskaltel Euskadi), s.t.
• 173, Mikel Aristi (Equipo Euskadi), 4:06

Photo: Fundación Euskadi