By now, Mallorca Diary has been on the road for almost a week. Time for the ‘finale’, as it is so aptly called. This time it’s not the Tramuntana Mountains, but a drive towards the quaint town of Artá and the adjacent Coll des Pescadors. Will you keep reading? Because definitely the second part of this trip is all about pure enjoyment! Haven’t seen the other parts of this diary yet? Check here Part 1, part 2, part 3 and Part 4!
Discover new routes
Today was my last day on the island of Mallorca. Unexpectedly, it was a wonderful cycling holiday. The weather certainly wasn’t against us, and the routes were also beautiful. So far, I have mainly cycled in and around the Tramuntana Mountains, but as you will probably understand, the island has even more to offer. Because in the south, you can also find some nice climbs and ride some beautiful trails. I haven’t been there myself yet, so today was also a day with new routes.
Pollenca – Alcudia
Choosing new routes started right in the first kilometer. My friends from Komoot sent me along a path past the local golf course that I had never seen before. It was wonderfully traffic-free, a bit wavy, quite narrow, but very well paved. Eventually I ended up on a slightly larger connecting road between Pollença and Alcudia, but this new route was really recommended.
My route eventually leads to Artá and the Coll des Pescadors (or Ermita de Betlem or Mirador de Betlem, as it is also called). From Pollença, you almost always have to go through Alcudia and Can Picafort. I still have to find the route that doesn’t go through the most ugly holiday boulevard in Spain. You get the idea; I haven’t found it yet. That first stretch is really steep and you have to be very careful. There is a one-way street on both sides of the road, buses are driving and all sorts of tourists who are not used to cyclists are driving by. But beware: the reward is worth it!
Freedom
Once past Can Picafort, the landscape opens up completely. In the distance you can see the mountains on the southeast side, around Arta. The road actually starts to climb right here. After the first part, I look at my Wahoo and I don’t understand why I’m not going forward. On the way back, when everything goes downhill, I finally understand it.
Back on the road up the hill. The landscape is very wide open, so you can see far ahead. The road is quite wide, but the bit of asphalt to the right next to the dashed line is sometimes a real pain to drive on. Then you have the choice to drive a little more on the road (and have cars passing by) or to follow a small course in ‘Flemish asphalt’. I hesitated several times and decided to go for option 1 anyway.
Combo bends
On the way there, you get a little bit of relief twice, and that’s really cool too. Both at the height of Son Serra and further on at Torrent de Vall there’s a hairpin bend that also descends. It’s nice to zoom down, under the bars! Today it was blowing a little bit harder than before, so I had to hold on tight to the handlebars. It was really a treat!
After the second turn, I started the climb that is designated as the Coll de Morell. Especially the last kilometer is treacherous, because where the average is only 2.9%, the last kilometer is 6.2% and that difference really feels in your legs. In the distance you can see Artá in the distance. That is also my intermediate station, after I rode the Coll de Pescadors.
City on its way, start of climb
To finally start the climb, you have to drive through the cozy town. That takes some navigating and the narrow streets with blind side alleys must be driven with caution. I almost had a bus in my side. On the northern side of the town, near the large parking lot, I head towards the climb. Beautiful paths with stone walls and a view of two green hills in the distance. I’m really looking forward to it!
Rock climbing
The climb to this hill is already a bit steep and the road is already winding. At the sign for Coll des Pescadors I know that after 2.5 kilometers and 6.7% ascent I am at the top. The road is already quite narrow, but the asphalt is wonderfully smooth. This has been done with great care! The climb feels very gentle and soon I am treated to some beautiful hairpin bends. The road continues up the hill and you have a very good view of what is to come. That promises something for the descent! The climb sometimes feels a bit irregular, but in the end I am quite refreshed at the top.
Unexpected encounter
Above is a group of cyclists ready to return. Suddenly I see a familiar face! Mario Kummer, the German Olympic champion from 1988 and former professional with Telekom, smiles happily at me. What a surprise. We know each other from his work for an Italian clothing brand. We laugh broadly and take a selfie. We send it to the owner. This is truly the icing on the cake and when we each weigh ourselves, I realize just how amazing the view is.
More of that
After the view, I also catch a glimpse of the descent. More hairpins! Wow, what a truly amazing surprise. I dive down and I am certainly not disappointed. There are plenty of photo opportunities, but I don't actually go all the way down. My lunch appointment in Artá is waiting for me and I arrive too late.
I quickly turn around and head up. From there, the beautiful descent begins, where you really have to keep your head in the right place, because some of the turns are very tight. Once I get down, I have to keep the throttle up to the town to climb the final few meters to the high mountain pass. Satisfied, I sit down for lunch.
Back to the original
I’m going to take the second part of the ride in a relaxed manner, I think. That’s not true at all. There’s a strong wind and I have to pedal hard. Fortunately, I soon meet other cyclists and that way we go head-to-head towards the finish point of Port de Pollença. There the bicycle rental and my family is waiting for me there!
As mentioned earlier: now I’m only starting to realize how much it got worse on the way there. We’re going in a forced course towards Can Picafort. The wind is against us, but we’re not under 32km/h. That’s a different story. The tight turns are still insane and now I’m only starting to realize that on the way back you have a continuous view of the Serra de Tramuntana in the background. Wow!
The last stretch, from Can Picafort via Alcudia to Port de Pollença, is not one to write home about. Only the last 3 kilometers are beautiful, along the coast. That is truly a treat, but the many kite surfers give a clear signal: wind! In the end, I am glad when I can park my bike at the Pro Cycle Hire terrace. Exhausted, happy, tired. What a vacation.
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.