Third time lucky for our annual Mallorca trip, 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic, and the vaccine didn’t arrive early enough for 2021, so here we go for 2022. Barring a disaster, it’s looking like it might actually happen this time.
I hope you are all looking forward to it as much as I am and for those who are newcomers you are in for a treat.
There’s currently looking like around 20 of us going, and I’m sure riders will group together where suitable, but below are the suggestions for each day, and what will be put on the RD Strava page…
The Rides
We’ll put the rides up on Strava so all have access to the routes, as follows:
Day 1 - Saturday - Cap de Formentor
Distance: 39.47KM, Elevation Gain: 1,183M, est. moving time: 01:25
Assuming you have time and aren’t faffing about putting your bikes together we are heading out to the light house as usual, for an afternoon to give the bikes a shakedown.
Day 2 – Sunday - Randa
Distance: 132.92KM, Elevation Gain: 1,261M, est. moving time: 04:50
A few of us who did this route last time raved about it and the photo's backed it up. Looks like a good leg warmer for the Reversy Percy on Monday.
"The Puig de Randa, rising 543m out of the plain, has been a place of pilgrimage ever since Ramon Llull founded Mallorca's first hermitage here in 1275." from seemallorca.com...
The route has now been adjusted to take in the velodrome at Sineu. Provided it’s still there, we can have a quick race round, I can’t remember who won last time…( 'I wasn't racing' - vp')
Day 3 – Monday - Reversy Percy
Distance: 136.45KM, Elevation Gain: 2,736M, est. moving Time: 04:55
We did this ride for the first time on the last visit, nice way to enjoy the long descent down Puig Major, it was tough but a great route if you've got the legs. Basically, it's the opposite way up past Gorg Blau with a lovely lunch stop halfway in Soller.
Day 4 - Tuesday - Arta
Distance: 131.86KM, Elevation Gain: 1,110M, est. moving Time: 04:45
A ‘leg rest’ day between Sa Calobra and Reversy Percy.
Last time we found a great place to eat mid ride, but according to Google it’s now closed, ruddy pandemic.
This route has been extended to go up the climb to Puig de la Mare for a fantastic view of the bay and Alcudia / Formentor.
Day 5 – Wednesday - Sa Calobra
Distance: 112.64KM, Elevation Gain: 2,242M, est. moving Time: 04:05
Sa Calobra, The Snake! The most outrageous road to nowhere, a must do in Mallorca.
Built in 1932, and shares a designer with the road to Formentor. Give him a knighthood.
Day 6 – Thursday - Muro
Distance: 71.90KM, Elevation Gain: 496M, est. Moving Time: 02:35
A fairly easy ride out to Muro to rest the legs after Sa Calobra, and before Andratx, Muro the location of Sa Fonda, the buffet place we all liked the last two times we went. Not sure they will let us back in as we are probably not cost effective...especially with Jonny and Andy N around!
I have reversed the route to give a flatter shorter finish to allow for full bellies.
Day 7 – Friday - Andrax to Port de Pollença
Distance: 118.94KM, Elevation Gain: 2,786M (Or 160km/4000m[!]), est. moving Time: 04:20. Ish.
If you have done this before you will know this is the biggest ride of the week and a real must do. We get the coach early morning from Port de Pollença to Andrax and ride back. Always seems like a good idea at the time...
If you are doing this ride please book your place on the bus here (remember to get the dates correct and depart from Pollença):
Pick the ‘Apart hotel Duva’ option for pick up.
There are options with this ride, with the ‘Big Daddy’ being an added Bunyola/Valdemossa/Sa Calobra descent and climb, making it over 160 km and 4000m of climbing, fancy some of that?
Day 8 - Cap de Formentor
Distance: 39.47KM, Elevation Gain: 1,183M, est. moving Time: 01:25
Last day traditional ride to Cap de Formentor if you have time and are not messing about packing your bike/hanging over!
I hope you guys are happy with the rides as listed but please feel free to discuss alternatives or any comments you have about the trip on the RDCC Mallorca 2022 WhatsApp group.
Totals stats for the week If you can get through all the rides it will be an impressive week:
Total Distance - 783.65 KM
Total Elevation Gain - 12,997 Meters
Estimated Moving Time - 26.92 Hours
Look forward to seeing you all in Mallorca
Droid