Leopold König got his Team Sky career off to a strong start with fifth place at the Trofeo Andratx-Mirador d’Es Colomer as the team placed four riders in the top 12.

The second race of Challenge Mallorca finished close to Team Sky’s winter training base and König led home a group of impressive results on the familiar surroundings of the final climb.

The team’s consistency shone through with Kanstantsin Siutsou taking seventh place, while Ian Boswell and Vasil Kiryienka secured ninth and 12th respectively.

König came home six back on race winner Steve Cummings (MTN Qhubeka), who pushed clear in the final kilometres to lead home Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Davide Formolo (Cannondale-Garmin).

For the second day in succession Team Sky hit the front in the closing stages and were able to push numbers to the fore as a select lead group formed on the climb.

After the race Sports Director Gabriel Rasch was happy to see the team at the front in numbers, and explained how the race panned out.

"The plan today was not to do too much from the start of the race," he confirmed. "Xabi (Zandio) looked after the breakaway. We said we’d only go in the break if it made sense and if there were any Movistar riders in there.

"Once the break had gone Movistar committed and we concentrated on getting as many guys over Puig Major as possible in the front group. In the end we got six with (Ben) Swift and Phil (Deignan) also in the group.

"They tried to attack a bit before the last climb but it was difficult on the flat roads. It’s great to have so many guys in the final of the race this early in the year. It gives everyone a boost in motivation. It shows the form is good."