Escaping to Mallorca for some warm weather training
We have been to Mallorca a number of times before to train so know the areas quite well, certainly the areas along the North East coast which is where we generally tend to stay. Alcudia is one of the largest tourist hot spots on that coast which we tend to avoid and favour instead the northern town of Puerto Pollenca to use as our base. From there we can cycle up into the mountains to the North, and if we are feeling brave we might head over to Sa Colobra (a category 1 climb, 9.4km in length, with a stunning set of beaches at the bottom tucked in amongst steep rocky cliffs that makes the climb back up, all the bit more worthwhile).
We also regularly cycle from Puerto Pollenca down the coast and across to the stunning town of Porto Cristo where you can sit on the beach and dream of winning the lottery one day and owning one the yachts that are moored up!
Pollenca is a lovely small town with an oyster-shaped bay, with the Serra de Tramuntana mountains rising behind it. It's got two pretty beaches both reaching 1-2km in length, one ending up by the marina – a popular hotspot for eateries. There’s a large square in Pollenca called the Plaza Miguel Capllonch and this is lined on three sides with various restaurants and bars so you are never stuck for somewhere to eat or drink.
For this particular trip we stayed in a hotel a few streets back from the beach so we weren’t right amongst the hustle but still close enough to get in an early morning swim, or grab some dinner and drinks and not have too far to walk back to the hotel. The hotel we stayed at on this trip was called the Puerto Azul Suite Hotel. A lovely 4-star hotel booked on a half board basis. This meant we fuelled up with a large breakfast which kept us going for the first part of the day, then had a late lunch when our energy was sapping, before heading back to Pollenca for dinner.
During these training camps we don’t tend to do any organised activities as we’re training a lot of the time, and when not training we’re topping up our tans by the pool and recharging the bodies ready for the next session. But we do have our favourite spots that we like to ride to because they serve the best coffee in the area or they make great cakes, and when you’ve cycled there you’ve burned off lots of calories so can have more cake!!.
One of our ‘must visit’ places is Cap De Formentor, a rugged peninsula with huge cliffs that dip sharply into the sea giving some of Mallorca’s most dramatic views. Apparently it’s also home to the Formentor Hotel, a 5-star hotel with its own private beach – and this is where Agatha Christie wrote ‘Problem at Pollensa Bay’. We’ve never made it to the hotel but I’m sure it’s worth a visit.
Another favourite spot of ours is a place called the ‘Coves de Campanet’ in English meaning ‘Caves of Campanet’ but we call it ‘Cats in the Caves’ as there is a small colony of cats who live there. We have never actually been into the caves, we generally just stop for a drink and enjoy the views on the terrace and have a play and a cuddle with the cats!
So in a nutshell, although this post is mainly about cycling I hope it also gives you an insight into the island itself, well certainly the North Eastern side which has miles of beaches to choose from, and plenty of places to explore. The weather is generally pretty warm from the end of March onwards with only the odd shower that quickly passes. It’s a relatively cheap destination for a holiday and it’s pretty easy to get around. When can I book my next trip back to the island???