Cycling
10 great Mallorcan climbs you should have on your bucket list
Heading to the Balearic island for some warm weather cycling? Be sure to attempt some of these ascents and discover Mallorca's wildest riding.
‘Mallorca is great for cycling’ rides pretty high in the league table of obvious statements. It lies somewhere between ‘the sky is blue’ and ‘the Pope likes pointy hats’.
This sunny little Spanish island in the Med – long-time favourite of English and German summer sun-seekers – has been made famous in the cycling world by professional teams flocking there every winter to train. The fine weather is a major draw for pro teams on training camps, giving them maximum opportunity to be put through their paces outdoors in preparation for their season’s main goals. For less-serious riders, Mallorca presents the magic trifecta of good weather, beautiful roads and cheap wintertime accommodation and flights.
There are some absolutely stunning climbs on the island, which are mostly situated in the Tramuntana mountain range that runs along its northern coast. Some of these climbs are world-famous and already feature on a lot of people’s bucket lists, while others are oft-overlooked but equally as lovely. Planning a winter training trip to the island and not sure where to start first? Here are five renowned Mallorca cycling climbs that should be starred on any road cyclist’s Strava segments and five that might just fire up your curiosity.
1. Sa Calobra
The iconic 270° corner
© Luis Alcantarilla / El Toro Media
Start point: Sa Calobra
End point: Coll dels Reis
Length: 10.2km
Summit altitude: 722m
Height gain: 703m
Maximum gradient: 11.8%
Average gradient: 6.9%
This is the big one: the one in all the photographs, the one that lures thousands of riders a year to the island, the one with the mother flipping loop-the-loop in it. Sa Calobra is, quite simply, one of the most remarkable roads in the world. To say that it is a dream playground for cyclists is, perhaps, a little bit of a stretch – given it can frequently get blocked by coaches, cars and motorcycles – but when you get a clear run, there are few places in the world that are better to be riding a bike.
There’s only one way up and down this one, so drink in the views over the glittering sea on your way back down to the bottom. You’ll be too busy staring at your stem during the ascent (and its 6.9% average incline) to enjoy them on the way up.
2. Puig Major
Mallorca_Puig_Major_February_2018-4124.jpg
© Walter Isack / Creative Commons
Start point: L’Horta
End point: Túnel de la Serra de Son Torrella
Length: 14.6km
Summit altitude: 864m
Height gain: 860m
Maximum gradient: 8.8%
Average gradient: 5.9%
Mallorquin is the local variant of Catalan spoken on the island, and when translated into English, the name of this iconic climb roughly comes to ‘big peak’ – and there’s little more to add really.
The tallest mountain on Mallorca can be scaled a couple of different ways, but the route from Soller is the most popular and – arguably – the most beautiful. There is not much in the way of refreshments at the summit of this climb, so fill your bidons and snack pockets before setting off. Plus, the ascent is completely worth it for the long and windy ride back – the spin down to Lluc being one of the most enjoyable on the island.
3. Coll de Femenia
Start point: MA-10
End point: Mosset
Length: 7.7km
Summit altitude: 532m
Height gain: 420m
Maximum gradient: 15.3%
Average gradient: 5.5%
If you’re staying in the popular town of Puerto Pollença on the eastern side of the island, the Coll de Femenia is a quotidian necessity, granting access to the rest of the Tramuntana. That is not to say it’s not a banging little climb in its own right – in fact, you could say it’s a daily ritual that’s far from a chore.
The Femenia has a few wee dips in it that might throw you off your rhythm or grant a moment’s respite, depending on how you look at it. Try to enjoy this one and hold something in reserve – it’s a warm-up for the bigger beasts to come after all.
4. Coll de Sóller
Amazing views await during your descent of Coll de Sóller
© Luis Alcantarilla / El Toro Media
Start point: Sóller
End point: Coll de Sóller
Length: 7.5km
Summit altitude: 506m
Height gain: 430m
Maximum gradient: 12.3%
Average gradient: 5.7%
The Coll de Sóller is just over seven gorgeous kilometres of road that are packed with enough hairpins to stock a mid-size branch of Claire’s Accessories. Attacking the climb from the north, beginning in Sóller, there are a whopping 29 sinuous, serpentine turns to tackle before you reach the summit. Then, as a treat, you can descend about 20 more as you head down the south side – 100% A-grade climbification.
Quick tip: Do not, repeat do not miss the turn for the Coll de Sóller and end up in the absolutely-not-suitable-for-bikes tunnel that cuts beneath the mountains in the direction of Palma.
5. Coll de sa Batalla
Start point: Caimari
End point: Coll de sa Bataia
Length: 7.9km
Summit altitude: 575m
Height gain: 391m
Maximum gradient: 8.5%
Average gradient: 4.9%
The perfect way to access the Tramuntana if you’re coming from the south or centre of the island, the Coll de sa Batalla is a joyous opportunity just short of 8km to whet one’s appetite before tackling the meatier items on the day’s menu. There is a particularly lovely bit around the fifth kilometre where the road eases off and even turns downhill for a stretch, allowing you to drink in some views.
At the top of the climb there also has an excellent restaurant-petrol station (a hybrid business model the Spanish have perfected better than any other people on the planet) from which you can purchase an obligatory ice cream.
Challenge: can your time spent lounging in the sunny forecourt exceed your time spent climbing the Sa Batalla?
6. Puig de Randa
Start point: Camí de ses Voltes
End point: Puig de Randa
Length: 5.5km
Summit altitude: 518m
Height gain: 337m
Maximum gradient: 18.4%
Average gradient: 6.1%
The Puig de Randa looms over the small village of Randa and boasts some spectacular views over the south-western corner of the island. It’s a relatively steep climb by Mallorcan standards, with a charming monastery at the top with its own little cafe bar. Popular with the Team INEOS professional squad, it’s a good climb when you want to get away from the crowds but still fancy a stern test.
On your way back to sea level, stick to the main road into Randa rather than tackling the ‘back way’, which breaks off and heads south. It’s a nightmarish surface, strewn with sharp stones and some really tight turns that make it a real test of nerve.
7. Coll Des Pi
The MA-10 between Valldemossa and Andratx is well worth it if you have time
© Michael Fludkov / Flickr
Start point: Estellencs
End point: MA-10
Length: 2.8km
Summit altitude: 360m
Height gain: 209m
Maximum gradient: 45.2%
Average gradient: 6.6%
This one is a bit of a cheat. Coll Des Pi is actually just one of several short climbs (and descents) that make up the stunning east-to-west ride along the MA-10 – one of the most jaw-dropping roads in the world. This serpentine strip of tarmac hugs the outer edge of the Tramuntana mountains, which fall precipitously away to the sea below. There’s a breathtaking vista or tempting side road down to a sleepy old fishing village around every turn, although it’s worth bearing in mind the climb back up to the main route that comes with any excursion.
For the full effect, begin in Valldemossa and ride to Andratx – but be warned, that part of your ride alone will amount to 40km on the clock.
8. San Salvador sanctuary
The final slopes of an epic climb
© Herr Olsen / Flickr
Start point: Felanitx
End point: Sant Salvador
Length: 4.9km
Summit altitude: 478m
Height gain: 337m
Maximum gradient: 10.2%
Average gradient: 6.9%
Way, way down in the south-eastern corner of the island, you’ll find the gorgeous climb to the Sanctuary of San Salvador. This tree-lined ascent passes through thick and fragrant pine trees that offer only occasional glimpses of the views that are to come before opening up to a stunning vista (and the monastery’s not too shabby, either).
The road surface is pretty poor by Spanish standards (although still miles better than your average British B-Road) and you’ll need to have your wits about you on the way back down as it can be narrow – but this is certainly an ascent worthy of the detour.
9. Formentor lighthouse
Skip the traffic as you spin your way to the top
© Cristian Bortes / Flickr
Start point: Port de Pollença
End point: Formentor lighthouse
Length: 17.7km
Summit altitude: 225m
Height gain: 590m
Average gradient: 0.8%
Maximum gradient: 31.7%
The ride to the Formentor lighthouse is easily reached for those staying on the eastern side of the island. In fact, it’s so close to Puerto Pollença that many visitors sneak this one in on the morning of their flight back home. The sub-20km ride out to the cape is actually made up of two back-to-back climbs, so the out-and-back ride adds up to four ascents total (with some other lumpy bits along the way for good measure).
The final descent-then-climb up to the lighthouse is absolutely stunning and – even if your legs are screaming after a long weekend in the mountains – you’re not going to regret making the trip out here. Watch out for the overly friendly Formentor goats – they’ve been known to eat everything from spare inner tubes to energy gels.
10. Refugi Tossals Verds
Start point: Lloseta
End point: Refugio Tossals Verds
Length: 6.7km
Summit altitude: 478m
Height gain: 322m
Maximum gradient: 20.1%
Average gradient: 4.8%
Nestled on the southern side of the Tramuntana, just a couple of kilometres as the crow flies from the main road that passes over the Puig Major, is the Refugi Tossals Verds. Despite its proximity to one of the biggest cycling draws on the island, this guest house for hikers couldn’t be more isolated. It sits at the top of a gravel climb that pitches up to some extreme inclines that will make you question whether it’s all worth it.
The first half of the climb from Lloseta is a benign 2-3% gradient on asphalt, but the second half of this ascent can only be described as savage. If you can make it up in one go without putting a foot down, you’re a better cyclist than most.
