Five days cycling in Mallorca
550km and 7650m elevation gain
The five rides I did to complete the Rapha Festive 500 represent the kind of routes that can be put together to give visitors a true flavour of what Mallorca has to offer cyclists. Each day I visited a different area and enjoyed rolling through typical Mallorcan towns and villages en route. These rides, done over five days, would offer a good challenge to the committed rider.
All my rides started and ended in Pollensa, home of n+1 Bicycles, but could be adjusted to suit your location.
Day 1 - Formentor
On the first day I rode out to the lighthouse at Cap de Formentor, an iconic location in Mallorca and one of the most scenic coffee stops. This ride was 70 km with 1,335 m of elevation gain – a good warm-up for day two.
Day 2 - Sa Calobra
The second ride took me up the Tramuntana to Port de Sa Calobra, a spectacular location and fabulous route – 96.5 km, 2,362 m of elevation gain, including the Coll de Sa Batalla, Coll dels Reis and Coll de Femenia. The road down to the Port is renowned and a must-do on most cyclists’ itineraries.
Day 3 - Mare de Déu de Cura
The third ride was out through the rolling farmlands to Mare de Déu de Cura, a nice little climb and good lunch stop – 135.4 km, 1,437 m elevation gain. The route went through the characterful small towns of Búger, Llubi, Sineu, Algaida, Randa, Montuiri, Sant Joan, Petra, Santa Margalida to the North East coast and back to Pollensa via Playa de Muro and Alcudia.
Day 4 - Orient
On my fourth ride I visited the Orient, a small remote village flanked by the Serra d’Alfabia – 127.7 km with 1,448 m elevation gain. I think the best way to visit the Orient is to climb from Bunyola and the Coll d’Honor, descending towards Alarò. Homeward was along the Carrer Baronia de Terrades, a great little country road, well surfaced, through vineyards, orchards and fields full of seasonal vegetables, for a beer in the town square of Sa Pobla, one of my favourite watering holes.
Day 5 - Artà
My final ride was out to the North East to Artà – 125.4 km and 1,071 m elevation gain. This route follows the last third of the Mallorca 312 cycling sportive event and climbs gradually up a remote little mountain range towards the characterful town of Artà. A possible addition to this route is a visit to the Ermita de Betlem, a gloriously isolated spot with a tiny road and climb to the old hermitage, with views of the Badia d’Alcudia, next to the Parc Natural de la Peninsula del Llevant.
These five days of riding, totalling approximately 550 km, represent a good varied introduction to cycling in Mallorca. I completed the routes at a leisurely pace, leaving time for a coffee and lunch – a pace that makes it possible to enjoy the scenery and the journey through this beautiful landscape.
The routes, or similar alternatives that you may want to choose, would suit anyone who has a decent level of fitness and rides a bike on a fairly regular basis.
My bikes are ideal for the Mallorcan terrain, have a very smooth, yet sporty character, and are great for long days in the saddle with a minimum of fatigue.
This five-day guided tour is available for people renting my bikes, mixed groups also including riders on their own or alternative rental bikes, or purely as a guiding service. Please contact me with your details and expectations, and I will put together a bespoke offer for you.
The advantage to having a guide whilst you are here for a cycling holiday is that you can keep up a steady pace with few interruptions for path finding, maximizing your time on the bike and confident that you’re on the right track.