Heading to cycling’s most popular island? Here’s all you need to know…

Mallorca is pretty much the go-to destination for UK riders looking for some sun and smooth roads abroad.

A known training camp base for Team Sky, Astana, Canyon-SRAM, Wiggle High5 and – whilst we’re at it – most of the pro peloton at one time or another, the Balearic Island is a popular host for amateur clubs and teams as well.

Spring is the most popular time to visit, and in the months between February and April it’s near impossible to ride on the island without coming across several miniature pelotons made up of pros, amateurs or groups that are somewhere in the middle.

Why go to Mallorca?

Firstly – if you need convincing as to why you should make Mallorca your destination of choice, it’s because you’re promised a trio of good weather, mixed terrain and (largely) understanding drivers.

Morgan And Morgan’s founder Leigh Morgan biggest motivation to starting the business was his passion for cycling on the island. 

“Mallorca has been the Mecca for cyclists for many years now and that is basically because it offers warm and predictable weather with a vast mixture of terrain,” he says, adding “you can have a long flat day if you wanted or destroy your legs in the mountains if you’d prefer.”

“The roads are smooth and well maintained and the locals understand that cycling is a big part of their holiday season so often are good at dealing with large groups of cyclists and tend to be a little more patient than drivers back home.”

Everyone’s got to have a cherished road, “my favourite part of the island is the descent off Lluc monastery down into Pollença town, a fast sweeping descent that allows you to push, ultimately go very fast with relatively minimal risk. It makes all the climbing to get there worth while!”

When to go and how to get there?

With its Mediterranean climate, Mallorca gets hot mid-summer. That means the best times to visit are spring and autumn – e.g. the times that most UK riders are chasing sun as they hold on to summer form.

In March and May, maximum temperatures vary from 17 to 22°C, then 23-19°C in October and November. December, January and February are cooler but still see highs of around 15°C – though this is variable, the island has seen snow in these months so planning your trip in the off-season proper is a bit of a risk.

Average rain days a month vary from one to seven through the year, so though you might see a couple of wet days, it shouldn’t last too long. 

If you’d like to time your visit to coincide with an event, then check out the Mallorca 312 sportive. This epic sportive is an annual affair which takes place in April each year. Initially, it circumnavigated the coastline – but the route has since been changed to allow for closed roads. You can ride 312km or 167km, and this event sees the island pretty much taken over by cyclists. 

In terms of travel, the capital Palma houses an airport – flight times from the UK are usually around two and a half hours. Palma is about 60km from Pollença, where a lot of rider’s base themselves. When travelling in small groups, we have typically hired a car, whilst on large group excursions we’d organise a transfer with bike box trailer.

Where to stay when cycling in Mallorca?

Most riders visiting the island will have the opportunity to explore a pretty hefty percentage of its attractions during their stay. However, where you choose to base yourself will of course influence your riding itinerary.

The longest route around the entire perimeter is 312km – North to South is 75km and East to West is 100km.

The vast majority of cyclists set up camp in the Northern coastal towns of Pollença and Alcudia. The key attraction of this area is that it sits close to the edge of the Tramuntana Mountains – the highest point of which is the tip of Puig Major. Whilst evidently there’s plenty of adjacent climbs, the area also promises a the flat roads along the coast and some undulating countryside routes as well. 

Our top recommendation for cycling groups which include secure onsite bike storage.

Where to ride in Mallorca?

The key attractions in Mallorca are of course the climbs – but you might want to add in a couple of flatter days, too. Since Pollensa and Alcudia are the most popular towns for cycling bases, we’ve started most ride distances and routes from there.