Mallorca 18-24 April

Day schedule:

• Buy grocery: snacks for clients, fruit, water, breakfast for guides.
• 14.00 Bring back the Kia and rent Mercedes at Palma airport
• 15.00 Check-in at our accommodation in Pollenca, Can Petrel.
• Go to Pollenca and maybe meet Mark.
• Micheal K. arrives16.05 hours from Amsterdam, flight KL1679. Adrian pick him up at the airport, takes him to Meliá Palma Marina and keeps his bike so he can put it together.

• 8.30 – Adrian starts to prepare the bikes outside the bike room on the bike stands. Fill the bottles with water.
• 8.45 Filippo and Toby arrive at Son Brull. Make sure snacks are ok.
• 9.00 – Mark arrives at Son Brull
• 9.00 – Clients start to get to the bikes and get ready
• 9.30 – Start Sa Batalla loop from the hotel.
• 13.30 to 15.30 – Tapas lunch and wine tasting at Xaloc winery (owner Claudia is German). Mark can go home if he wishes.
• 15.30 Riding back to hotel (at least those who have massages). 
• 16.00 Adrian dusts the bikes and put them in the bike storage than he can go home.
• 16.00 to 19.00 – 30′ sport massages by Jonathan + regular massages
• 19.30 Filippo starts transferring clients to Caimari. Park here. If full, a bit lower there is another parking with a little walking trail to the centre.
• 20.00 –  Countryside dinner at Ca Na Toneta restaurant.

Mileage: 55km / 803mt │ 40mi / 2730ft

All the rides we are going to experience during our bike retreat are iconic. Today we start with the more “comfortable” – gentle slopes, a perfect surface and cafés at the bottom and the top.

A rolling ride from Pollença, heading south-west towards Campanet and across to Caimari where the climb starts. Before climbing stop in the village and visit Sa Ruta Verda, one of the most well-respected cycle-friendly cafés on the Island. They serve great coffee and healthy food and are so cycling-focused the owners refer to their establishment as a ‘feed-zone’. Before or after the climb, it is worth the stop.

Sa Batalla can be summarized as the climb of three parts : through the first set of switchbacks, up along and through the ridgeline with a false flat before the gradient increases to the second set of hairpins. The pine trees provide welcome shade from the sun, as well as a reminder that you are now most definitely in the heart of the Serra de Tramuntana. The passage through the rocks is memorable and offers a view up towards the summit. The beauty is that, at 7.2km and an average gradient of 5%, it can be ridden relatively easily or full gas.

After cresting Sa Batalla,  we take the right for the easier side of Coll de Femenia. From the pass, most of the hard work is done so enjoy the views across the valley towards the bay of Pollença as the road drops beneath your wheels.

Check the key section on Strava: Coll de sa Batalla Segment

1. Km 10, meet at San Miquel de Campanet church (close to Ses Coves restaurant). It is an important first stop since they are riding the bike for the first time and they might need adjustment.
2. Km 19, Placa Major Caimari.
3. Km 27, Repsol.
4. Km 47. at the parking. We theoretically should turn before the parking. That’s why Adrian (or Toby) should be here, to make sure they stop.
5. Meet at Xaloc Bodega

Note: if we are very early at Lluc, we can go to Cala San Vincenc and make it longer (12 extra km).

Map link

Today is a tough ride and the number 3 so we will know already how strong the group is. Ideally, they will all ride the whole loop. But if somebody is not strong enough, we need to transfer him/them at least to Lluc and avoid Col de Femenia to save some energy.

Scenario A – They all ride

• 8.00 – Adrian starts preparing the bikes outside the bike storage. Fills the water bottles.
• 8.45 – Clients start to come out and get their bikes.
• 9.00 –  Start riding Sa Calobra loop
• 13.30 –  Lunch somewhere in Lluc (tbd, I was thinking monastery).
• 15.30 –  Back at the hotel. Mark can leave. Adrian can start taking care of the bikes and after that leave.
• 16.00 to 19.00 – 30′ sport massages by Jonathan + regular massages
• 19.00 – Toby takes Filippo to Pollenca before heading to Son Brull.
• 19.15 – Toby starts to transfer clients to Pollenca. Filippo will be waiting for clients at the restaurant. After that park here.
• 19.30 – Dinner at Trenkadora restaurant in Pollenca. See menu.

Scenario B – Some ride from the hotel, some transfer all transfer to Lluc

• 8.00 – Adrian starts preparing the bikes outside the bike storage for those who ride from the hotel and starts loading the bikes for those who skip the first part. Adrian also fills the water bottles.
• 8.45 – Clients start to come out and get their bikes.
• 9.00 –  Mark and Filippo start riding Sa Calobra loop. Adrian start driving to Repsol where he will prepare the bikes. Clients that don’t ride, jump in the car with Toby and also drive to repsol (they can have a coffee while waiting).
• 10.00 – Meeting at Repsol where Adrian will have the bikes ready. From here, all the group rides.
• 13.30 –  Lunch somewhere in Lluc (tbd, I was thinking monastery).
• 15.30 –  Back at the hotel. Mark can leave. Adrian can start taking care of the bikes and after that leave.
• 16.00 to 19.00 – 30′ sport massages by Jonathan + regular massages
• 19.00 – Toby takes Filippo to Pollenca before heading to Son Brull.
• 19.15 – Toby starts to transfer clients to Pollenca. Filippo will be waiting for clients at the restaurant. After that park here.
• 19.30 – Dinner at Trenkadora restaurant in Pollenca. See menu.

Scenario C – They all transfer to Lluc

• 7.30 – Adrian starts loading the bikes on the van. Adrian also fills the water bottles.
• 8.30 – Adrian and Filippo and Mark start driving to Repsol.
• 9.00 –  Toby transfers clients to Repsol
• 10.00 – Start riding.
• 13.30 –  Lunch somewhere in Lluc (tbd, I was thinking monastery).
• 15.30 –  Back at the hotel. Mark can leave. Adrian can start taking care of the bikes and after that leave.
• 16.00 to 19.00 – 30′ sport massages by Jonathan + regular massages
• 19.00 – Toby takes Filippo to Pollenca before heading to Son Brull.
• 19.15 – Toby starts to transfer clients to Pollenca. Filippo will be waiting for clients at the restaurant. After that park here.
• 19.30 – Dinner at Trenkadora restaurant in Pollenca. See menu.

From 64km / 1000mt │40mi / 3400ft to 92km / 2002 mt │58mi / 6806ft

Today you can choose weather to take it very easy or to sig up for the hardest day of the bike retreat. If cycling climbs were celebrities, Sa Calobra would have Hollywood A-list status. No matter what you’ve heard from friends or seen online, nothing can replace viewing it with your own eyes and riding it with your own legs.

From Pollença you get to warm up and soon start climbing on the smooth slopes of the Coll de Femenia. From there the road winds its way in and out and up and down the ridges of Tramuntana mountains towards your Mallorcan cycling destiny…. There is a left hand corner with a view point over a solid mass of limestone rock that is so abundant it’s unforgettable. Somewhere behind that, in amongst all the rock, is the road engineering genius that is the Sa Calobra climb.

At this point you can still ride all the way back down the hotel and relax in its amazing spa or keep going…

Pass under the viaduct, laugh at the ‘KM0’ road marker and climb the 2.5km of the Coll del Reis before plunging to the sea to do ‘the bounce’ back up again. It’s a good tactic to refuel and refresh in the Port before you start the climb. Savour every metre and welcome the ease in gradient on each and every one of the multiple hairpins as you make your way up to the famous ‘noose’.

Check the key sections on Strava:

Col de Femenia | Segment

Sa Calobra – Coll dels Reis (official) | Segment

SCENARIO A – THEY ALL START FROM THE HOTEL

1. Between Km 10 and Km 17, somewhere before Coll de Femenia. Just in case they need something.
2. Km 22, Parking Refugi Son Amer
3. Km 32, at the viaduct.
4. Km 45, down at Sa Calobra.
5. Km 57, at the viaduct again.
6. Km 68, at Lluc monastery
7. Km 88, at the parking. We theoretically should turn before the parking. That’s why Adrian (or Toby) should be here, to make sure they stop.

SCENARIO B – TRANSFER NEEDED FOR SOME

1. Km 22, Repsol.
2. Km 32, at the viaduct.
3. Km 45, down at Sa Calobra.
4. Km 57, at the viaduct again.
5. Km 68, at Lluc monastery
6. Km 88, at the parking. We theoretically should turn before the parking. That’s why Adrian (or Toby) should be here, to make sure they stop.

SCENARIO C – TRANSFER NEEDED FOR ALL

1. Km 10, at the viaduct.
2. Km 23, down at Sa Calobra.
3. Km 35, at the viaduct again.
4. Km 51, at Lluc monastery
5. Km 71 at the parking. We theoretically should turn before the parking. That’s why Adrian (or Toby) should be here, to make sure they stop.

Map link

• 9.00 – 12.30 Free morning. If they wish, Toby can take them to play golf (we need to write to the golf course a few days before).
• 12.30 – Filippo starts driving clients to Ses Coves.
• 13.00 to 15.00 – Lunch at Ses Coves (if you don’t want to join and take all day off, it is not a problem)
• 16.00 to 19.00 – 30′ sport massages by Jonathan + regular massages
• 19.30 –  Dinner at the hotel Bistro’.

• 7.15 Adrian starts loading the bikes on the van.
• 7.45 Mark arrives at Son Brull.
• 8.00 Adrian Filippo and Mark set to Palma where they will unload the bikes and take them in front of Rapha store.
• 8.30 Toby starts transferring clients by van to Rapha Store in Palma
• 09.30 – Clients arrival. We offer them coffee, we introduce them to Miguel. We gift them a cycling cap. Ali might want to check Cafe du Cycliste store.
• 10.00 Start riding the Soller loo.
• 13.30 Lunch in Bunyola. Adrian can start loading the bikes on the van.
• 15.15 max – Miguel can ride home. Toby transfers clients back to hotel. Adrian Filippo and Mark can also start driving to Son Brull. Once there Mark can go home and Adrian takes care of the bikes.
• 16.00 to 19.00 – 30′ sport massages by a professional soigneur + regular massages
• 19.00 –  Toby takes Filippo to Pollenca, then goes to Son Brull.
• 19.30-  Toby starts to transfer clients to Pollenca. Filippo will be waiting for clients at the restaurant. After that park here.
• 20.00 – Dinner at Trenkadora restaurant in Pollenca. See menu.

75km / 1100 mt │ 47mi / 3740ft

Today we will ride in the Soller area starting from Rapha store in Palma.After meeting our special guest, Miguel Indurain jr, we will hit the road.

After warming up on small local roads, we will be tackling the southern side of Col de Soller, an open and gradual climb that offers great views of Palma. Once on top, we will descend the northern side famous for its tighter switchbacks and mountain-like scenario, so different from what you rode a few miles before. Soon we will get to Soller.

It’s that sun that gives Sóller its French connection. The Port of Sóller served as a trading post between the Island and the French coast where the bounty of the temperate climate of the Sóller valley left for mainland France : oranges, lemons, olives, figs and almonds. On the return, exporters brought with them a bit of French culture via fashion, furniture and goods.

The rest of the ride will take us to some other iconic towns like Valdemossa and Deia on scenic road above the sea,

Check the key sections on Strava: Coll de Soller | Segment

1. Km 16, parking before entering Bunyola.
2. Km 25, top of Coll de Soller, Can Topa.
3. Km 35, swimming pool parking after leaving Soller (just in case)
4. Km 45, Somewhere on the road between Soller and Deia (just in case)
5. Km 55, Valdemossa parking in front of Can Pedro restaurant
6. Km 71, I plan to finish in Bunyola at the square where we can eat something. Park the closest possible and we will bring the bikes to the car while they eat.

Map link

• 07.30 Adrian starts loading the bikes.
• 08.00 Mark arrives to Son Brull
• 08.15 Adrian Filippo and Mark set to Soller. Hopefully we will find place at Parkplatz Soller.
• 9.00 Toby starts transferring by van to Soller
• 10.30 Start riding Puig Major loop
• 13.30 Lunch in Pollenca or Lluc (TBD)
• 16.00 End of the ride. Mark can go home. Adrian takes care of the bikes. Toby finishes the video and renders.
• 19.00 Toby transfers clients to Cala Barques. Filippo gets there by taxi or bike.
• 19.30 Final Dinner at Cala Barques restaurant.
• 22.00 Movie projections outside Son Brull (I booked the spot and rented a tv).

Ride description:

52km / 1600mt │32,5mi / 5440ft

Let’s close the bike retreat with a major ride! Puig Major it’s the highest climb in Mallorca. It’s one of the main ways you can access the mountain lakes, with pro cyclists often seen using the roads around them as part of their training loops, and like Sa Calobra (Day 3) is a very consistent challenge from bottom to top.

We will transfer by van to Soller where the ride starts. After only a few km we will ride through Fornalutx. Sometimes referred to as ‘the prettiest village in Spain’ it welcomes you with its orange groves which help give this side of the mountains the reputation as the ‘Valley of Gold’. Liquid gold. The road squeezes itself between the old stone buildings, past the town square before rejoining the main climb to get back to business.

The local authorities know their audience well and have paved this side of the climb to perfection. The views across to the other side of the valley and down to the port of Soller just get better and better with each of the large open switchbacks as you climb towards the tunnel at the summit. The medium gradient of 6-7% allows you to choose your own effort but like many mountain ascents, the road gets a bit steeper in the final kilometers so pace yourself accordingly.

The Monnàber tunnel provides a fitting finale to the climbing but this mountain delivers more on the other side. Through the tunnel the Cùber reservoir comes into view between the rocks and, after the effort, it may be tempting to take a dip. Continue on and the water of the second reservoir, the Gorg Blau is closer and even more inviting. It’s known as the ‘mirror between the mountains’ that has inspired local painters and poets alike.

Look up to the left and the military dome on the adjoining peak is visible. The history books state that the Americans helped install this base and rumours still abound as to its use by them. Cyclists will notice and – depending on the effort already made – regret that the service road with its stacked switchbacks leading to the peak, is for army use only.

Later on we ride to Pollenca via the already familiar Col de Femenia.

Check the key sections on Strava: Puig Major Start climb Soller to Tunnel | Segment

1. Km 10, somewhere in the middle of the ride between starting point and tunnel.
2. Km 22, at the parking at the lake.
3. Km 35, Lluc
4. Km 53. at the parking. We theoretically should turn before the parking. That’s why Adrian (or Toby) should be here, to make sure they stop.
5. Meet at the hotel.

Map link

– 09.00: Toby drives Roy and Sam to the airport (flies out on BA 497 at 12.10)

– 09.00 to 11.00 short ride. Filippo and Adrian involved.

– 11.00 to 12.00: Clients can shower and check out (max at 12.00)

– 11.30 Pinarello get the bikes. Adrian can put Michael Bike in the box.

– 12.00: lunch at bistro (not included in the price)

– 13.30: Start transfer Friedman and Morell to Palma and then Ali and Howard and Michael K. to airport. 

– 15.00: return Mercedes (would be nice to extend the rental).

– 19.00 Filippo and Toby at the airport for check in

– 21.20: Fly out

Flying Schedule end of the trip

• Mark Friedman & Michael Morell can be dropped at Sant Francesc hotel in Palma
• Roy Rubin flies out on BA 497 at 12.10 PM for LHR, so he can’t do the morning bike ride. Organize an antigen test on 23rd
• Ali Behnam & Howard Lindzon fly out on BA 451 at 4.50 PM for LHR. Howard needs that rapid antigen test at a pharmacy either the afternoon of April 22 (4 PM onwards) or the morning of April 23. I’m hoping someone at home can do his application for him while he is biking.
• Sam Wholley flight departs at 12:25.
• Micheal Kinsbergen flight is at 16:55.

I was thinking to ride to Ermita, get a coffee and go back. But we could also ride flat. Important is to be back at 11 max.

Link to Google drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12rfdclYqhJKEneSeUp37PH9HFY5vF7f9?usp=sharing

Day schedule:

• Visit Rapha.
• Meet Adrian.
• Meet Mike Morell in Deia.
• Meet Sam in Port de Soller.
• 14.00 Check in at our accommodation, Hostel Nadal.
• Go to Pollenca and visit Pinarello and maybe meet Mark.

Day schedule:

• 12.00 Filippo leaves Tabor
• 14.00 Pick Up Toby
• 15.00 Get to parking: Drnovská 507/73 Praha 6 Souřadnice.
• 16.00 arrival at the airport and check-in.
• Flight QS1164 18:05- 20:35. Seats 9D Filippo and 9E Toby
• 21.00 Car rental at Record Go (Once you cross to the ‘land side’ of the arrivals hall, go straight on towards the left, until the end of the hall. You’ll find our office on your left.)
• Drive to Hotel Marbel. 24/7 check-in.

– 9.30/10.00 Filippo waiting for bike delivery at Son Brull. Pinarello will bring bikes. Put the stickers on the bikes, helmets and water bottles.

– From 09.30: Toby picks up the clients that are staying in Palma. 09.30 Mike Kinsbergen at Meliá Palma Marina, 09.45 Jason Hann at AC Hotel, 10.00 Ali Behnam + Howard Lindzon + Roy Rubin + Mark Friedman at Can Bordoy. Arrival at Son Brull must be around 11.00.

– From 09.45: Adrian picks-up the clients that are staying outside Palma: 09.45 Sam Wholley at Jumeirah, 10.00 Mike Morell at La Residencia. Arrival at Son Brull must be around 11.00.

– 10.00: Mark arrives at Son Brull.

– 11.00 to 12.00: Welcome drink and chat about the tour. Light lunch at the hotel’s Bistro with a welcome drink.  Clients can get changed (the hotel will provide either a room that is already ready or yoga changing rooms.

– 12.00 to 13.00: Light lunch at the Bistro

– 13.00: Once they are ready they will get to the bike deposit where they get their bikes. Filippo, Mark and Adrian help them, Toby is already shooting the video.

– 13.30 to 18.00: We ride the Coll de Se Batalla loop. Mark will lead the pack, Filippo will stay in the back. Adrian support car. Toby making video moving around with Mercedes.

– 18.00/18.30 Back at the hotel. Clients will do the check-in, and Filippo will help them. Mark can leave. Toby can leave and take a shower because he needs to be back to pick them up for dinner at 19.30. Adrian, after asking if the bikes have any problems to the clients, put the bikes in the storage room after dusting them. After that Adrian can leave.

– 19.30 Toby picks the clients up and transfers them to Port de Pollenca, restaurant Stay. Filippo will be there so he can take them to the table while Toby parks the car. There is a close paid parking that would be ideal.

– 20.00 Dinner at Stay restaurant in Port Pollenca. Reserved under the name Filippo Mari/BIKO. See the restaurant menu here.

– 22.00 circa Toby transfers back clients to Son Brull. Filippo gets a taxi home or Toby picks him up later.