Road bike mountains on Mallorca: The ten most beautiful climbs on Mallorca

The 10 most beautiful road bike mountains on Mallorca

1. Coll des Vent (8.2 km, 388 m elevation gain, max. eight per cent gradient)
2. Coll de Soller (7.4 km, 327 m elevation gain, max. eight per cent gradient)
3. Coll d'Honor (6.1 km, 333 m elevation gain, max. 5.5 per cent gradient)
4. Puig Major (15.7 km, 850 m elevation gain, max. nine per cent gradient)
5. Coll dels Reis (10.1 km, 698 m elevation gain, max. twelve per cent gradient)
6. Coll de sa Bataia (8.5 km, 412 m elevation gain, max. nine per cent gradient)
7. Talaia d'Albercutx (7.0 km, 355 m elevation gain, max. eleven per cent gradient)
8. Ermita de Betlem (7.5 km, 260 m elevation gain, max. eight per cent gradient)
9. Puig de Randa (4.8 km, 256 m elevation gain, max. 5.3 per cent gradient)
10. Puig de Sant Salvador (5.3 km, 368 m elevation gain, max. ten per cent gradient)

The GPS data for the ten most beautiful climbs can also be downloaded free of charge below.

1. COLL DES VENT South side

• 8,2 Kilometres
• 388 Altitude metres
• max. 8% Gradient
• average 4,7% Gradient
• Start Palma de Mallorca
• Starting height 6 metres
• Pass summit 380 metres

Cyclists often give Palma a wide berth. But then they miss out on the Coll des Vent, whose climb starts right at the harbour. Once you have found the start below Placa del Pont, you can quickly fortify yourself with a cafe con leche in one of the bars - then Carrer Andrea Doria leads straight uphill, crosses the motorway, passes a barracks and climbs through a restricted military area and pine forests. This section with a dozen bends is unique on Mallorca because of the magnificent views of the city and the sea. You can also enjoy them - only on the steepest ramp just before kilometre six does the well-paved road rise up at eight per cent.

2. COLL DE SOLLER South side

• 7,4 Kilometres
• 327 Altitude metres
• max. 8% Gradient
• average 4,4% Gradient
• Start Crossroads west of Bunyola
• Starting height 170 metres
• Pass summit 497 metres

Before 1997, all the traffic to Soller, into the Valley of the Oranges, travelled over the pass. Then the tunnel to Soller was opened, and the pass was transformed into an almost car-free gem for racing cyclists, with hairpin bends after hairpin bends in an open landscape. Although the north side has a significantly higher elevation gain, cyclists have to share the road with many cars until the tunnel. On the south side, most cars disappear into the mountain after a good two kilometres - cyclists are often among themselves on the ascent. But although the even gradient never exceeds seven per cent, you shouldn't really let it rip right at the start: The steepest section only begins on the top kilometre.

3. COLL D'HONOUR (ORIENT) South-west side

• 6,1 Kilometres
• 333 Altitude metres
• max. 9% Gradient
• average 5,5% Gradient
• Start Bunyola
• Starting height 217 metres
• Pass summit 550 metres

There are higher, longer, steeper and more spectacular climbs on Mallorca, but the Coll d'Honor - also known as the Orient after the town on its north-east side - is one of the island's classics. There is hardly a racing cyclist who is not familiar with the six-kilometre climb that runs along the eastern flank of the Tramuntana mountains. Why? Because it allows a first cautious push up the mountain after you have previously only rolled along the base. Because hairpin bends reduce the steepest section before the top of the pass to nine per cent. But certainly also because hardly any cars stray into the lonely high valley. And for training enthusiasts: because the pass can be incorporated into a tough circuit with Coll de Sa Bataia, Puig Major and Coll de Soller.

4. PUIG MAJOR West side

• 15,7 Kilometres
• 850 Altitude metres
• max. 9% Gradient
• average 5,4% Gradient
• Start Soller
• Starting height 40 metres
• Pass summit 879 metres

The 1436 metre high Puig Major is the highest mountain in Mallorca. The military road to the summit is off-limits, even for racing cyclists. But the road, which reaches its highest point below the Puig with a tunnel, also holds a record. The almost 16-kilometre-long western ascent is the longest on the island and, at 879 metres above sea level, leads to the highest point that can be reached by road bike on Mallorca. There can still be snow up here early in the year, while at the start on the Placa Constitucio in the centre of Soller you can already sit outside in the sun. We recommend the variant via the pretty village of Fornalutx, then you only meet the wide C-710 at kilometre 5.2, which starts north of Soller.

5. COLL DELS REIS North side

• 10,1 Kilometres
• 698 Altitude metres
• max. 12% Gradient
• average 6,9% Gradient
• Start Sa Calobra
• Starting height 20 metres
• Pass summit 718 metres

It couldn't be steeper: the Coll dels Reis, the Pass of the Kings, shares the record with the climb to Puig de Sant Salvador with an average gradient of almost seven per cent. The only difference is that the Royal Pass is twice as long and is much more spectacular with its hairpin bends and sea views. But if you want to conquer it, you first have to descend 700 metres to the start by the sea in Sa Calobra - or take a boat from Soller, although this rarely happens in spring. Then it's uphill like an Alpine pass: ten kilometres, through a rock gate, past limestone pinnacles, up through almost twenty hairpin bends. Shortly before the end, a road construction icon awaits: the tie knot, where the road forms a 270-degree loop.

6. COLL DE SA BATAIA South side

• 8,5 Kilometres
• 412 Altitude metres
• max. 9% Gradient
• average 4,8% Gradient
• Start Caimari
• Starting height 168 metres
• Pass summit 576 metres

The Coll de Sa Bataia is the third highest pass on Mallorca and only the two highest, Puig Major and Coll dels Reis, accumulate more metres in altitude. But on Sa Bataia they are well distributed, on average the gradient remains below five per cent and only scratches the nine per cent mark at the beginning, in the first hairpin bends after the starting point of Caimari, and before the hairpin bends in the final third of the climb. And as you mostly climb through sparse pine forest, you hardly notice the metres in altitude that lie below you. Unless you are tempted by one of the many groups of cyclists chasing up the popular pass to set a murderous pace. Then the petrol station and restaurant are the only things that save you at the pass.

7. TALAIA D'ALBERCUTX Stub road

• 7,0 Kilometres
• 355 Altitude metres
• max. 11% Gradient
• average 5,1% Gradient
• Start Port de Pollenca
• Starting height 10 metres
• Pass summit 365 metres

Mallorca's northernmost tip, the Formentor peninsula, is one of the most popular destinations for road cyclists. On the way from Port de Pollenca to the lighthouse at the cape of the peninsula, however, most cyclists rush downhill after the first climb
to the Coll de la Creueta (209 m) down towards Formentor. At the Coll, however, a small road branches off to the right to the Talaia d'Albercutx watchtower, an old pirate lookout. The 2.3 kilometre road is in a pitiful state, with potholes forcing you to take a serpentine course. But the view becomes more impressive with every metre. At the top, the panoramic view extends from the peninsula across the bay of Pollenca to Menorca, into the centre of the island and finally deep into the Tramuntana mountains.

8. ERMITA DE BETLEM Stub road

• 7,5 Kilometres
• 260 Altitude metres
• max. 8% Gradient
• average 3,5% Gradient
• Start Artà
• Starting height 142 metres
• Pass summit 373 metres

The Ermita de Betlem is located in the Serra d'Arta, in the far north-east of Mallorca. The monks moved away in 2010 due to their age. However, the chapel can be visited. The nine-kilometre road from Arta to the monastery climbs to its highest point, the Puig de sa Font Crutia, after just 7.5 kilometres. From there, you can see across the bay of Alcudia to Cap de Formentor. After Arta, the road first leads slightly downhill, disappearing after two kilometres into a wooded area, where the ascent begins after 500 metres. After two flat sections and through open countryside, the road turns left at kilometre 4.8. It becomes narrower and steeper and winds upwards over sunny sheep pastures.

9. PUIG DE RANDA Stub road, west side

• 4,8 Kilometres
• 256 Altitude metres
• max. 10% Gradient
• average 5,3% Gradient
• Start Randa
• Starting height 294 metres
• Pass summit 542 metres

Mallorca's centre is flat. Only small mountain ranges rise out of the Es Pla plain, the highest being the 542 metre high Puig de Randa, Mallorca's "Holy Mountain". Two monasteries cling to its flank, one perched at the very top. Road cyclists who are looking for a challenge in Es Pla also make a pilgrimage there. Immediately after Randa, the ascent is even and straight to the south-east. After 1.2 kilometres, the hairpin bends begin. However, the most beautiful view does not await you on the panoramic terrace of the monastery café, but beforehand in the uppermost left-hand bend. Tip: If you are looking for a tougher route to the summit, you can start from the south, on the northern edge of Llucmajor (150 metres). The eight-kilometre climb covers 400 metres in altitude.

10. PUIG DE SANT SALVADOR Stub road

• 5,3 Kilometres
• 368 Altitude metres
• max. 10% Gradient
• average 6,9% Gradient
• Start Junction near Felanitx
• Starting height 142 metres
• Pass summit 510 metres

Another monastery. On a mountain, close to heaven. The Santuari de Sant Salvador is not only an important place of pilgrimage for Mallorcans. Road cyclists also make the pilgrimage up there. Pilgrimage routes must be arduous. Even this one. The road climbs at an average gradient of almost seven per cent from a junction east of Felanitx, sharing this Mallorcan record with the Coll dels Reis. A dozen hairpin bends give the climb a good rhythm, which together with the many low views disguises the effort. But pace yourself: The steepest section comes late.

GPS DATA: TOUR offers the tour data for free download. You can download the tracks in GPX format directly onto a GPS device or view them on your computer in Google Earth or Google Maps.

Downloads:
GPS data: Spain: Mallorca climbs
PDF: Spain: Mallorca: Climbs and stages