Mallorca, Spain: An Analysis of Europe's Top Winter Training Cycling Paradise for Pro Teams

Why Cycling Teams Around the World Fly to Mallorca in Winter

Mallorca, an island in the Spanish Mediterranean, is the top winter training base for European pro teams. Its advantages are a mild winter climate (around 15°C in January), excellent road surfaces, and a mature culture of drivers yielding to cyclists. The signature route is Sa Calobra.

Classic Routes

Route	Distance	Elevation Gain	Highlights
Sa Calobra	13.5 km	~670 m	Famous “bow tie” hairpin bend
Coll de Sóller	7 km	~400 m	Consecutive hairpins, old road
Cap de Formentor	~20 km	~600 m	Cape lighthouse, stunning coastal views
Puig Major	~14 km	~800 m	Highest road climb on the island

The Bow Tie at Sa Calobra

Sa Calobra’s most famous feature is a 180-degree switchback where the road loops over itself into a “bow tie.” What makes it special is that it goes “down first, then up”—you have to ride down to the dead end by the sea, then climb all the way back up the same road. There is no shortcut—a pure climbing test.

Sample 7–10 Day Winter Training Itinerary

Pro teams use Mallorca to build their base phase, and amateur riders can follow the same progressive logic:

Day	Workout Focus	Route Plan	Approx. Elevation
Day 1-2	Adaptation + loosening the legs	Flat coastal loop	< 500 m per day
Day 3-4	Moderate climbing, aerobic	Coll de Sóller out-and-back	~800–1,000 m per day
Day 5	Main challenge	Sa Calobra bow tie	~670 m + surrounding area
Day 6	Recovery ride	Cap de Formentor scenic route	~600 m, low intensity
Day 7-9	Long-distance endurance	Linking up Puig Major	1,500 m+ per day
Day 10	Cool-down	Easy flat ride	Low

For a base, it’s recommended to stay in Port de Pollença or Alcúdia in the north—most winter training groups are based there, and the ecosystem for supplies, bike rental, and repairs is well established.

Bringing a Bike vs. Renting

High-end road bike rental is well developed locally (including carbon wheels and electronic shifting), and most people choose to rent to avoid the hassle of shipping a bike. Flights from Taiwan usually require a connection through a European city to reach Palma (PMI) airport.

Things to Note

During peak season (March to May), there are many cyclists on the road, so be careful on descents. The Mediterranean has large day-night temperature swings, so pack a light windbreaker. Coastal sections can occasionally have strong winds.

Mallorca makes you understand what “cycling culture” really is: when car drivers proactively slow down, when the entire island exists for cycling, you’ll feel envious—and then think about bringing that respect back to your own city one day.