Matteo Pelucchi (IAM Cycling) emerged victorious from the first race of the 2015 Challenge Mallorca.

The 26-year-old took the win in a bunch sprint at the Trofeo Santanyi-Ses Salines-Campos, with Elia Viviani (Sky) and Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) coming in second and third respectively.

The victory was IAM Cycling's first since their elevation to WorldTour status prior to this season.

Early in the race, a two-man breakaway consisting of Damien Garcia (Froy-Oslo) and Alex Kirsch (CULT Energy) went clear.

The duo built up an advantage of more than eleven minutes at one point but due to a lack of numbers they were facing a losing battle.

Garcia was the first to crack, before Kirsch was finally swallowed up by the bunch with 23 kilometres remaining.

Inside the final three kilometres, a crash caused havoc in the peloton, with MTN-Qhubeka's Andreas Stauff suffering a broken collarbone.

However, the sprinters were already clear of the incident and it was Pelucchi who fought off the competition to win convincingly.

"The other teams tried to break the pack up, but we were vigilant and were always well placed in the front," Pelucchi said.

"I really must thank the team because they had complete confidence in me. Today is a victory for the whole team, not only a victory for me."

The Challenge Mallorca continues today with the Trofeo Alcudia.

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Jamie Hall
Cycling editor and football writer. Currently studying sports journalism at university.