Mallorca's Cycling Highlights

1. Sa Calobra (The Cycling Serpent)

Summary

The best known and toughest climb in Mallorca, Team INEOS's unofficial pre-season testing ground and a magnet to tourists of all kinds. A twisting ribbon of road in the Serra de Tramuntana Mountains, which snakes down limestone cliffs from the peak of the Coll del Reis (Neck of Kings), to the port village of Sa Calobra. 

History

Designed by Italian / Spanish engineer Antonio Parietti and opened in 1933, Sa Calobra is a marvel of engineering. It was built entirely by hand, the 26 bends following the contours of the cliffs and based on the design of a neck tie. The 'knot' of the tie is represented by a 270 degree Spiral Bridge at the top of the climb. Interestingly, the road was one of the first engineered  purely with tourism in mind.

Cycle Facts

Sa Calobra is a Category 1 climb 9.44 km in length with an average gradient of 7% (12% max), rising 668 metres to a peak of 731 metres. 

KOM: Jardi Van Der Lee -  22:23 (August 2 2025) 378 average watts; 25.2 km/h average speed
QOM: Illi Gardner - 29:09 (November 2 2022) 19.4 km/h

Need to Know

There are only three ways to reach Sa Calobra and all pass the Coll de Reis - 2.6 km at 6% average gradient.
1. Coll de Femenia (Cat 2) - 7.2 km - 6% av grad - 407 m (heading west from Pollenca)
​2. Coll de Sa Batalla (Cat 2) - 7.8 km - 5% av grad - 381 m (heading north from Caimari)
3. Puig Major / Soller (Cat 2) - 14.8 km - 5.8% av grad - 842 m (heading east from Soller)
This makes Sa Calobra tough to ride to and it is an 'out and back' ride so expect a long, hard day in the saddle.

Climb breakdown:

1-5 km: The road winds up through the trees and passes a dramatic rock arch with gradients between 6-8 % 
5-10 km: The hairpins begin as the gradient kicks up to 7-8% and delivers a final sting in the tail in the last km with gradients of 9-10%

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