The penultimate Challenge Mallorca one-day race, Trofeo Andratx-Pollença was stopped by the riders and then cancelled after just 25km of racing due to dangerous conditions caused by strong gusts of wind combined with heavy rain that quickly made the road surface slippery on Saturday.
Rain in and around the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range that plays host to the mountainous days throughout the series of five one-day races meant the roads were slippery and caused several riders to come down in the first hour of racing.
There was due to be 151.1km of racing, with the key climb of the Coll de Puig Major (14.2 km at 6%) set to be the highlight, but updates from several teams confirmed, including Arkea-B&B Hotels, that "the conditions were no longer right to allow the peloton to progress safely."
In addition, The Illes Balears-Arabay team also confirmed that the event was "cancelled and suspended due to weather conditions and crashes in the first few kilometres."
Burgos Burpellet BH confirmed on their social media channels that the event was suspended "due to the numerous falls that occurred in the first kilometres."
When riders ultimately stopped racing at 125km to go, there was a breakaway of three riders that included Daniel Cavia (Burgos BH), Amund Grøndahl Jansen (Uno-X Mobility) and Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè).
After the riders made the decision to stop racing, Cavia took to social media saying, "Today seemed like a good day, the breakaway was moving forward but due to the conditions of the terrain, the peloton decided to stop, which forced the race to be suspended. It's a shame, but we can't fight against this. Tomorrow is a new opportunity in Palma."
The last day of the Challenge Mallorca is due to come on Sunday at the 149.9km Trofeo Palma.
Race organisers of the Challenge Mallorca's Trofeo Andratx-Pollença explained in an official statement after the race that they respected but did not share the riders' decision to halt the racing after the dangers that had arisen due to the bad weather.
"The peloton of cyclists has decided to stop the race at the 23rd kilometre of the Andratx-Mirador del Colomer Trophy (Pollensa). The decision was unilateral. The riders' representatives informed the president of the technical jury of their decision to stop the race," read the official statement from the organisation.
"The organisation has had no room for negotiation to find a possible alternative to the cyclists' firm decision. The organisers and the UCI College of Commissaires of the race respect the riders' decision and regret the damage caused. The organisation does not share the riders' decision."
The organisers said that they recognised that the safety of the peloton was their priority and that they had warned riders and teams to use caution in the opening kilometres of the race.
"The organisation is aware that safety takes precedence over any other cause, which is why, before the race and during the first kilometres, the team leaders were informed of the danger and caution was requested on the initial sections of the route," they wrote in the statement.
"The organisation regrets the injuries suffered by some of the cyclists who have been involved in a fall and wishes a speedy recovery to all of them."
