Partying, dredging, drinking: The halligalli image sticks to Mallorca like the Harz mountains to a spruce tree. That's a shame, because Germany's favourite holiday island has much more to offer. Sun-kissed beaches, for example, and idyllic bays, historic towns and barren mountains. And not forgetting all the spectacular, winding roads on which racing cyclists pump kilometres into their calves in spring and autumn. Mallorca is quite rightly a hotspot for road cycling.
However, the island has so far had little to offer mountain bikers. Almost 70 per cent of Mallorca is privately owned. Every hill, every plain is criss-crossed by walls and fences. Only absolute insiders know the secret routes that make a longer, continuous tour possible. The new "Megatrail" is a minor sensation. For three years, the Rad International team in Peguera scouted almost every trail in the Tramuntana mountains to create the 240-kilometre route with 8,000 metres of elevation gain.
Anyone who rides it and provides the required photo evidence will be included in the website's Hero Gallery. The starter pack - map, GPS track, road book, photo card - is available for a fee from Rad International. The trail is not signposted. Something like this would be almost impossible on Mallorca. You would need permits from all kinds of authorities. "You can forget it," says Harald Sandner, head of Rad International, who has had experience with such things since building the first MTB park on Mallorca. The Megatrail runs along the public, legal paths and trails of the Tramuntana mountains.
INFO MALLORCA
Majorca
The popular holiday island is served by several flights a day from all major airports. While most tourists flock to the seaside resorts in the south and north-east, outdoor enthusiasts tend to be drawn to the Tramuntana mountains, which span the northern part of the island. In spring, Mallorca is the hotspot for racing cyclists. The road network is ideal. And even in February it can be 20 degrees.
The tour
With the Megatrail, it is now possible for the first time to cycle through the Tramuntana mountains on your own. The 240-kilometre route with 8,000 metres of elevation gain is not signposted. GPS track, road book and maps are available for an entry fee at Rad International in Paguera, where the Megatrail starts and ends. You decide for yourself how long you want to ride. All you have to do is pass all the checkpoints and bring photo evidence. If you like, you can buy the finisher jersey for 20 euros. We recommend four stages for cyclists in top condition and at least five for everyone else. Guided tours are available on request. Important: Good riding technique is essential! megatrails.com
Equipment
You have to carry your own luggage. But if the weather is stable, a compact rucksack (12-14 litres) will suffice. If possible, you should choose a fully with at least 120 mm suspension travel. A hardtail is also possible. But then you should be a virtuoso riding technician. Rad International offers a large selection of rental bikes. rad-international.de
Overnight stay
There are hikers' huts (refugios) or guesthouses along the route. Costs per night: around 50 euros. It is best to book in advance.
The major report on the first ascent of the Mallorca Megatrail is available in BIKE 3/2018 - in stores from 6 February. Our photo gallery here gives you a foretaste:
The article about the first ascent of the Mallorca Megatrail can be found in BIKE 3/2018, which is available at newsagents from 6 February to 5 March. At the same time and beyond, you can read BIKE in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or purchase the corresponding issue in the DK shop. reorder - while stocks last:
