In July 2014, the 101st Tour de France will start in Leeds, Yorkshire, before continuing to Harrogate, York, Sheffield, Cambridge, and then leaving the UK for France. The race starts on Saturday, 5 July to Sunday, 28 July 2014, and is made up of 21 stages, covering a total distance of 3,656 kilometres (before ratification). UK travellers should follow Team Sky (2012 Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and 2013 Tour de France winner Chris Froome) and head for the hills around Calvia, Majorca, for the perfect cycling holiday or training break.
2014 Calvia Cycling News Round-up
1) Ride with Cycling Legend Stephen Roche
Tour de France legend Stephen Roche, who runs cycling holidays and training camps in and around Calvia, has launched a new training camp for 2014 which includes the chance to ride with the cycling legend himself in preparation for the Mallorca 312 Challenge on 26 April 2014. Ideal for cycling enthusiasts, the special training camp includes entry to the 312 Challenge. Additions to the Stephen Roche fleet for 2014 include 50 new full carbon road bikes and 15 new electronic Carrera team bikes from Italy. New programmes include a feature ride day to tackle the two biggest climbs on the island, Sao Calobra and Puig Major, both near the Calvia region.
A seven night package with bike hire and accommodation starts from 880€ per person for an individual room or 705€ per person for a shared room at the Ponent Mar Hotel. Accommodation at the Son Caliu Spa Oasis is also available from 943€ per person on an individual basis and from 810€ for a shared room.
For more information on the Stephen Roche training programme and to book, visit www.stephenroche.com
2) Refurbished Rosa del Mar Aparthotel Offers New ‘State of the Art’ Rad International Bike Station
Rosa del Mar Aparthotel, located 100 metres from Palmanova beach in one of the quietest areas of Magaluf, has just completed a major refurbishment. The resort now includes 32 apartments, 16 junior suites and 136 studio rooms. The re-development extends the property’s operational season to nine months of the year and enhances of its sports offerings. The 4-star establishment boasts an impressive specialised bike station operated by Rad International, which offers bike rental, comprehensive information on independent or guided cycling routes, a shop selling cycling equipment, and a workshop to mend bikes. The property operates a fitness centre with a fully equipped gym, a new spa with a wide selection of treatments, Turkish Baths and a heated indoor pool. The hotel also features a buffet restaurant, à la carte restaurant and snack bar, relaxing ‘chill out zone’, and its own theatre which shows several professional productions each week.
Rad International offers a seven night, half board package from €399 per person, including accommodation at the Rosa del Mar Aparthotel, airport transfers, spa and fitness studio access, MTB full suspension or Carbon Road bike hire for 6 days.
To book visit, www.rad-international.com
3) Viva Palmanova to Open Cannodale Bike Station in 2014
The 4-star Viva Palmanova Spa Hotel has a reputation as a first class resort, and is nestled between two of the island’s most prestigious golf courses. The hotel has been designed to focus on everything sport lovers will need during their active break in Calvia and offers a range of facilities and services including special sports massages and carefully planned buffet menu options. In 2014, Viva Palmanova will open a Cannondale Bike Station which will include a bike rental shop, energy products, bike parts, cycling clothing and a mechanic service.
A seven night stay at the 4 star Viva Palmanova Hotel on a half board basis, starts from €393 per person, including Canndondale Supersix bike hire, based on a minimum of two people sharing an apartment.
For more information and to book, visit www.hotelsviva.com/en/viva-palmanova-spa
Flights:
Monarch, the scheduled leisure airline, operates year round flights to Majorca from London Gatwick and Manchester and flights during the summer season from Birmingham and London Luton, Leeds Bradford, East Midlands airports with fares, including taxes, starting from £32.99 one way (lead fares February – May 2014)
For further information or to book Monarch flights, Monarch Holidays or Monarch Hotels, please visit www.monarch.co.uk
Cycling in Calvia
Calvia, a municipality located on the south west corner of Majorca known for being home to popular party place Magaluf, is a cyclist’s mecca with a warm, reliable climate averaging 15°C in the winter months and beautiful natural training areas. Already a popular cycling destination with nearby European countries, Calvia offers world-class cycling opportunities, with Team GB athletes even choosing to train in Mallorca for a few months each year. Calvia is a short two hour flight from London Gatwick and regional airports, serviced by the likes of Easyjet, Ryanair and British Airways.
Dubbed the ‘seven wonders of the roads’, Calvia offers routes for cyclists of all levels, who can choose from seven different designated routes which vary in intensity. The Enjoy Peguera, or the coastal Palmanova-Magaluf routes offer idyllic views of secluded costal bays and lush pine forests, while routes such as Calvia’s Landscapes offer shorter distances, allowing cyclists to take in the picturesque residential and tourist areas of Calvia. The Capdella-Galatzo route will allow enthusiasts to take it up a gear, beginning at the region’s main mountain bike ride starting point, Es Capdella and travelling through mountains to the public estate of Galatzo. Alternatively, cyclists can ride along the beautiful river bed on the Torrent de Santa Ponca route, take the tempting Almond Blossoms and Wineries route to discover the delicious landscape of some of the region’s best culinary offerings, or the Sunset Tramuntama, a favourite route of cycling legend Bradley Wiggins prior to the Beijing Olympics. With spectacular panoramic views, especially at sunset, this route runs right along one of the most impressive landscapes of the Serra de Tramuntama.
For more information on Calvia, visit www.visitcalvia.com