European Cycle Routes
Sa Calobra isn’t just one of the best Mallorca Cycling Routes. It’s truly world class.
What makes a legend?
Coiled in the Tramuntana mountain range, in the northwest of the island of Mallorca, lies the Sa Calobra Serpentine road. Built in 1932 by the man who needs no introduction - Antonio Parietti, it is undoubtedly his masterpiece. And the climb has now gained over 45,000 individual attempts on Strava.
Truly legendary.
Here are some of the features that make the snake the greatest:
Serpentine
This stunning European cycle route is characterised by numerous hairpin bends and switchbacks, adding an extra layer of challenge and excitement for cyclists. These winding sections create an enjoyable sense of flow as freeriders navigate the twists and turns. 26 of them to be precise. 26 hairpin bends and the infamous 270-degree loop that you might know as the ‘Knotted Tie’ but we like to call The P. And see as our hero Snr. Parietti's final flourish as he signed off his masterpiece.
Like a cobra ready to strike
The gradient and elevation gain presents no small climbing challenge. The Sa Calobra rears up in a continuous ascent with an average gradient of around 7% and you can expect to tackle an elevation gain of approximately 680 metres during the ride. making it ideal for putting your climbing abilities to the test.
Beautiful but deadly!
As well as being one of the most beautiful, it is also meant to be one of the most dangerous roads in Spain, with its narrowness and many sections without guardrails. Plus there's only one way in and one way out! And when you get to the bottom you know you've got to climb back out - from sea level to 682 metres, all in one go. And what goes up... The exhilarating downhill descent requires cautious handling and control due to the narrow road and tight corners. Not to mention the buses and did someone say Goats!
Sidewinder
Sa Calobra was built specifically to avoid tunnels creating a road that snakes through the undulating landscape. This was Parietti’s genius, to work with nature, not to blindly bulldoze through it. Sa Calobra is renowned for its stunning natural beauty winding through the Tramuntana mountain range, offering breath-taking views of rugged cliffs, deep gorges, and the azure waters of the Mediterranean.
But don't just take our word for it. If you enjoy cycle travel come and visit us in Mallorca and try this iconic route for your self. And check out the rest of the Parietti Big 5 on Komoot. Mallorca cycling at it's finest.
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Sa Calobra
Mallorca Cycling Routes
Designed by our hero and inspiration, pioneering Mallorcan engineer Antonio Parietti. This iconic road has long given us the freedom, challenges and adventure we live for, we’ve created routes for 4 more of Snr. Toni’s finest roads.