Cycling in Mallorca

You may curse the incline or the headwind in the last few metres, but once the climb is behind you, the endorphins come back: cycling on Mallorca makes you happy and trains the body as well as the mind. The network of cycle paths on the island has enough routes for every kind of ambition. Professional racing cyclists and city bikers alike have similar sympathies for the sunny island, some of whom scrub up kilometres on the mountain every day, while others go sightseeing in the saddle. You should know that cycling is almost a kind of national sport for the Spanish. On many routes, you will also encounter locals doing their daily rounds.

Cycling on Mallorca - it's pure enthusiasm. Especially in the low season, when the temperatures are still pleasantly mild and the roads are almost clear. The big cycling teams have also chosen the Balearic island as their favourite training camp and use the spring to prepare here in ideal conditions. Amateurs and amateur athletes can also be found here in large numbers at this time of year to shorten the winter at home and soak up the first rays of sunshine on a cycle tour through the almond blossom. Cyclists are often the first to arrive on the island in spring and the last to soak up the sun in winter. Many hotels and service providers have catered for cyclists.

Mallorca's versatility benefits cycling and its fans. Where else can you cycle through the flatlands by the sea, take a mountain bike tour through the mountains or work your way up one of the monastery mountains in one day? On Mallorca, everyone can find the route of their choice and, if you can't fit your own bike on the plane, you can also find the bike of your choice on a temporary basis: road bikes, mountain bikes, trekking bikes, e-bikes - everything can be hired on the island or reserved for a guided tour. This is practical if you are on a cycling holiday in Mallorca with the family and need good equipment for everyone. The east and north-east are a mecca for cycling on Mallorca. Cycling events also take place here in early summer. But any of the coasts on Mallorca are suitable for cycling tours:

Cycling island Mallorca - 8 selected routes

Selected cycle tours in the north of Mallorca:

Playa de Muro - Cap Formentor - Playa de Muro (90 kilometres)

If you are an experienced road cyclist looking for a challenging route, you only have to go to the northernmost tip, Cap de Formentor. The starting point of this route, which is rich in views, is Playa de Muro. It is around 90 kilometres from there to the Cap and back again, mostly via the narrow serpentines on Formentor. If you want to take a shorter route, you can start in Port de Pollenca and take the 18 kilometre route from there to the Cap. In both cases, it is worth stopping at the Mirador Es Colmer.

Alcúdia - s'Albufera Nature Park - Alcúdia (30 kilometres)

A great cycle tour for beginners or families leads through the s'Albufera Nature Park, which is located around 6 kilometres from Alcudia (north-east). The park is closed to cars, so you can enjoy nature in complete peace and quiet. Numerous bird and plant species can be admired here and you can take a short break from your bike tour at the park's visitor centre to learn more about the flora and fauna of Mallorca. You cover around 30 kilometres there and back on flat paths.

Selected cycle tours in the west of Mallorca:

Deia - Port Andratx - Deia (53 kilometres)

If you get on your bike in the west, you can't avoid ascents and descents, as we are at Tramuntana level. A great coastal route (MA10) leads from the small artists' village via Valdemossa, Esporles, the small vineyard of Banyalbufar and Estellencs to the south-west to Port Andratx. Along the way, there are always spectacular views of the sea and the mountainous landscape of Mallorca. The Tramunatan tour is very popular with trained racing cyclists, but ambitious leisure cyclists can also tackle this route.

Port Sóller - Sa Calobra - Port Sóller (80 kilometres)

It starts inconspicuously and becomes a real test of endurance with 2341 metres in altitude. With two of the toughest mountain passes in Mallorca, this bike tour is only suitable for people who are trained and free from giddiness. From Port Sóller, the route leads almost directly up to Puig Major, past the Cúber and Gorg Blau reservoirs, up to the Coll des Reis mountain pass and finally down the hairpin bends to Sa Calobra. If you've had enough of cycling there, you can take the boat back to Port Sóller.

Selected cycle tours in the south of Mallorca:

Palma - S'Arenal - Palma (28 kilometres)

A cycle tour for pretty much every target group and every age. The route along the Playa de Palma is asphalted throughout, pleasant to cycle and car-free. The total length is 28 kilometres with no gradients worth mentioning. This gives you plenty of time to follow the coastline and take in the many stretches of beach at your leisure. Portxiol and El Molinar in particular are always lively. It is worth taking a short break in Can Pastilla before continuing along the promenade to Arenal. Of course, this easy cycle route also works in the opposite direction for a day trip by bike to Palma.

S'Arenal - Randa - Sineu - S'Arenal (85 kilometres)

A beautiful destination in the centre of the island is the monastery mountain Randa (542m) with the monastery Santuari de Cura. If you fight your way up there, the east coast and large parts of the centre of the island lie at your feet. The great thing about this tour is that it mostly runs along side roads with little traffic and through a few villages in the centre of the island that are well worth seeing: Llucmajor, Petra, Montuiri, Sineu (market on Wednesday) and Algaida. At just over 750 metres in altitude, this cycle tour is not too difficult to conquer. It's worth stopping at every stop for a break.

Selected cycle tours in the east of Mallorca:

Cala d'Or - Sant Salvador - Cala d'Or (50 kilometres)

The former monastery Santuari de Sant Salvador is enthroned 509 metres above sea level on the mountain of the same name - a place for Mallorca lovers who get a stunning view of the island from the very top. We reach Sant Salvador a little over halfway. After starting in Cala d'Or, we first drive to the small village of Felanitx with its pretty alleyways and large church. Then we head towards Porto Colom and look out for the signposts to Sant Salvador. From there, we take a short detour to the harbour in Port Colom and then head back towards Cala d'Or.

Manacor - Arta "Via Verde" (29 kilometres)

The "greenway" between Manacor and Arta in the east of the island was once a railway line before it was converted into a cycle path. The Via Verde is part of a project of the same name that is converting old railway lines in Spain and Mexico into attractive cycling and hiking trails. On this relatively flat, almost 29-kilometre route, you follow picturesque hilly landscapes, traditional villages, old olive groves and 20,000 newly planted trees and plants. The journey becomes the destination.

Practical tips for a cycling holiday on Mallorca:

• Early and late season are the best choice for extended bike tours on Mallorca - spring, autumn & winter offer the best training conditions with pleasant temperatures and slightly emptier roads
• If you want to tackle the challenging tours in the high mountains on Mallorca, you should choose your equipment accordingly (from the brakes to the pedals)
• Bikes can either be taken to the island in a hard-shell case (max. 130x70x25) on the plane or hired locally
• with a few exceptions, there are (still) no cycle paths on Mallorca without motorised traffic - cycling is therefore not without danger, especially on the narrow hairpin bends in the mountains

Mallorca - the cycling Mecca

Around 200,000 cyclists come to the island every year, whether for intensive training, the start of the season or a cycling holiday. And the cyclists bring money to the island. According to media reports, the industry generates a turnover of around 300 million euros. So it is perhaps easier to get over the fact that motorists are often left behind when the cycling teams take over the roads. Due to the boom, the island government has spoken out in favour of new and safer cycle paths - until now, cyclists have had to share the roads and byways with motorised traffic. More than 200 hotels on the island have adapted to the cyclist target group and have hire stations, racing bike cellars, workshops and fitness facilities for cyclists.

Important cycling events on Mallorca

• Mallorca 312 - The most important cycling event is Mallorca 312 - a marathon around half the island. The longest tour is - as the name suggests - over 312 kilometres with 9 tough boulders, including the Puig Major - the highest mountain on the island at 1445 metres. If you want to feel your way around, you can also tackle the Mallorca 225 or Mallorca 167. All routes start and finish in Playa de Muro. The next date is 25 April 2020 and anyone can take part.
• Mallorca Tour - The Playa de Palma Challenge Ciclista Mallorca is one of the oldest races. The 29th Tour of Mallorca is scheduled for January 2020. The race is spread over 4 days. Many professional teams start the new season with this race.