Mallorquian Monsoon
‘The Lighthouse’ Mallorca. Image: Christine Grosart; DJI Mini 4k.
My annual pilgrimage to Mallorca for a solo training camp was a little early this year due to my rota.
I knew it was very early season as my usual hotel wasn’t even open. So, I took a chance and stayed at Port Blue, Pollensa. This turned out to be a superb decision. It has a laned, bookable outdoor heated pool, indoor spa with stunning views across the bay, daily yoga classes, on site bike mechanics, it is right by the beach and a flat running route…it was just perfect.
The staff were superb and I was very well looked after, which is important when I’m travelling solo.
The hotel was mainly full of cyclists and triathletes but this year, instead of feeling intimidated – I felt at home. I was also surprised to be approached at dinner by Darren, who runs the brilliantly organised Great Weston ride, Mendip Lakes and Lumps and the (horrendous) Great Exmoor sportives. He runs trips to Mallorca for cyclists and this one seemed well attended.
On arrival, the weather was not so fantastic. It rained an awful lot and it was extremely windy. One day it even snowed up in the Tramantua mountains. I had to pick my battles.
I tried once to swim in the sea and only succeeded in drowning my brand new Hoverair drone which I had bought specifically for the trip.
It wasn’t a good start.
I had to be flexible and my first proper riding day took me up to the Repsol garage with no view at all from Col de Femenia. Good thing it was a training camp and not a holiday then!
I smashed PRs in my first ‘shake down’ days on the bike and went on to get a 5km running PR, followed up by a 10km PR. Something had clearly shifted and I was on a roll.
The hotel spa was great for sore legs but the ‘Lighthouse’ ride was now considered a rest day for me.
I started to factor in longer rides, taking in one that scared me a bit – Pollensa to Randa Monastery. The climb up to Randa was super easy and full of German cyclists – it was a super friendly atmosphere, but I was acutely aware that I still had the same distance again to get home, around 60km.
I saw parts of Mallorca that I guess, as a regular tourist, you just wouldn’t visit. That was the beauty of cycling here and my coach Russel Carter picked a superb route.
Of course, I had to go to Sa Calobra again. Still not confident enough to factor it into a longer ride, I drove out in the afternoon as I usually do, have some sandwiches and wait for the hordes of cyclists, rental cars and coaches to subside.
Around 4pm I was left with just bird song and the occasional car, but no more.
I banked on a sunset ride and I got one. I also got another PR riding the hill for real, without even trying and only using one gel.
I felt very strong and Sa Calobra was also turning into a ‘day off’ ride. I took the car back down to a viewpoint and had fun flying my drone, capturing some stunning scenery and the sunset as the mountains cooled down for another night.
Sa Calobra at sundown
The trip however wasn’t short of mishaps. I somehow managed to drown my brand new Hoverair drone when a wave caught it as I was swimming. There is a new waterproof drone coming out soon so I think I’m best grabbing one of those….
I used my DJI Mini 4k for the rest of the trip and it gave me lovely video as usual.
I took on another ‘long’ ride, this time a figure of 8 at just over 100km, out to Santa Maria del Cami and back.
Torrential rainstorms coupled with violent winds scuppered a few days up in the mountains, but I was happy to spend more time in the pool, given my shoulder surgery had prevented so much swimming over the autumn.
However, my shorts and summer dresses remained unpacked for the entire trip and I think I’ll be looking for a later trip and some sun next year.
Mallorca – you were epic – again.
The mountains are calling…
