A new year and time to sign up for some new challenges…. Here are a selection of local sporting events that are well worth considering. For more events in the Balearic Islands check out www.elitechip.net – Many of these events have shorter distances for the kids.
The Galatzó Trail – www.galatzotrail.com
Sunday 13th March 2022
The Galatzó Trail runs entirely through the ‘Es Galatzó’ Public Estate, in the municipality of Calvià. With the option of a mountain marathon or a half marathon.
Triathlon Portocolom – www.triathlonportocolom.net
Sunday 10th April
Located on the east coast of Mallorca, Portocolom is one of the most stunning natural harbours on the island, which has been serving as a safe haven for sailors of the Mediterranean Sea for centuries. It is only eleven kilometres from the town Felanitx. The sea swim crosses the harbour, before a 50km bike loop and a 5km run along the harbour. The bike loop includes the 5km climb up San Salvador (7% gradient). The bike and run loop is doubled for the longer distance event.
Two options for this early season Triathlon – Swim 500m/1000m, Bike 50/100km, Run 5/10km.
Mallorca 312 – www.mallorca312.com
Saturday 30th April
At 312km, this sportive traditionally used to do an entire lap of Mallorca’s coastline, following on from a discussion amongst friends in a bar in Arta. Now a closed-road event that is concentrated largely in the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains in the north of the island.
With a mighty elevation of over 5,500m, this looping route from Playa de Muro takes in most of the climbs the mountains have to offer and is enough to make all but the most hardened endurance cyclists gulp.
There are 2 other options – The Mallorca 225 sportive which takes place at the same time is 225km long with a not-to-be-sniffed-at 3,813m of climbs. The shortest route is the Mallorca 167 which is, yes, you’ve guessed it, 167km long and has approximately 2,500m of climbing.
Unlike most sportives, you actually have the choice of which distance you want to ride while you’re riding.
So if, for example, you find yourself aiming for the 225km distance but decide halfway through that your legs have more in them than you figured, you can carry on and complete the 312, if you’re nuts!
IRONMAN 70.3 MALLORCA – www.ironman.com/im703-mallorca
Saturday 7th May
Based up in Alcudia, this course is a quickie and one of the most popular Half Ironman events. The one-loop 1.9 km (1.2 mile) swim course is located on the white sand beach in Port d’Alcúdia. Surrounded by mountains makes it a fantastic spot for a race start. The one-loop 90 km (56 mile) bike course takes the athletes up to Lluc and inland through towns such as Caimari, Sa Pobla & Muro before heading back to Port d’Alcúdia. The three-loop 21.1 km (13.1 mile) run course is a flat course along the wonderful Alcúdia Bay. The finish line is located on the beach area, about 50 meters away from the swim start.
Mallorca Olympic – www.mallorcatriathlon.com
Saturday 28th May
The event will be a 1.5km swim, 38km bike drafting allowed and 9.3km run. All events will take place in the beautiful waters around the town of Colònia Sant Jordi. The town is famous for the amazing beaches that lie either side of the town and the island of Cabrera, Spain’s first protected nature marine park, that lies a few kilometres away. The town is also famous for its salt, collected from the world’s second oldest salt flats.
BEST Fest 2022- www.bestopenwater.com
May 28th – June 3rd
7-day open water swimming festival is now into its 8th year and continues to attract top elite athletes, up-and-coming junior talent and a diverse range of club and recreational swimmers – many of whom will be taking part in their first open water swim event.
Challenge Mallorca – www.challenge-mallorca.com
Saturday 15th October
This is a half Ironman, based in Peguera, comprising of a 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21.1km run set on a beautiful sandy beach. The swim is a fairly simple sea swim. The bike bike is a bit more undulating, heading inland & uphill to Es Capdellà. The run is flat along the boulevard of Peguera, where, the public tend to come out and cheer you all the way home.
The Vuelta a Menorca – www.menorcacicloturista.com
Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd October
The three-day Tour of Menorca is a fantastic cycling sportive that promises great riding, great food and stunning scenery.
Each day features a different route, out and back from the base, in the island’s capital. As you would expect, the event features mechanical and medical back-up, well stocked feed stations and a broom wagon, to sweep you up, if it all gets too much. There are rolling road closures, with the entire field cycling together along the Menorcan countryside.
The event is concluded on Sunday, with a somewhat entertaining sit down lunch and prize giving. Very few riders escape a mention or a prize – everyone being called up on stage at some point or another. The British contingent are made to feel very welcome and singled out for praise & friendly banter. Historically, there are approximately 300 riders of which around about 75 are British! The rest of the riders are made up of clubs and individuals from Menorca and Mallorca, with many riders taking the ferry between Mallorca and Menorca just for the event.
The entry for all three days is not expensive and can be made on www.menorcacicloturista.com – to make life easier I would definitely recommend staying near Mahon.
Epic 360 Menorca www.camidecavalls360.com/epic
Friday 4th – Sunday 6th November
Three events in one – MountainBike (161 km), TrailRun (160 km), Experience (run, 103 km).
The mountain bike element consists of three stages of pure mountain biking, through exciting and technically demanding tracks. The organiser creates routes that include inland tracks and the most attractive sections of the Camí de Cavalls. The Camí de Cavalls is an ancient path of 186 km encircling the island (GR 223). It is widely accepted that the path was built in order to connect watchtowers, fortresses and cannons distributed along the coast of the island and to make the transport of troops and artillery easier. The stages of the race average 65 km and +1000m of elevation. The routes are very technical & the terrain is varied. Coastal cliff top single tracks are swiftly replaced by large disc-like pebbles on the beach. You then find yourself carrying your bike up steep jagged rocks, before blasting inland amongst the pine forests on 4×4 dirt tracks. The whole experience is fantastic, but seriously hard work… One of those that when you look back you think you enjoyed in more than you did! What is certain, there is no better way to see the stunning, rugged coast line of Menorca.
Dan Marsh
Ses Rotes – Cycling, Wine & Horses
