This Year's Mallorca 312 Covers Only Part of the Island

This year, numerous prominent riders are taking part in the Mallorca 312 sportive. The event, now firmly established in the island's cycling calendar, takes place on Saturday (29 April). The race starts at 6:30 am at Platja de Muro, where among others the former German sprint star André Greipel will line up. The Rostock rider ended his successful career in 2021, a career in which he became the most successful German road racer of all, always away from the limelight. Greipel claimed 158 race or stage wins, including eleven at the Tour de France, seven at the Giro d'Italia and four at the Vuelta a España. No other German cyclist has ever enjoyed more success.

At the start, Greipel will be joined by other former cycling legends such as the Spaniards Alberto Contador, Pedro Horrillo, Joseba Beloki, Óscar Freire and Óscar Pereiro, the Italian Ivan Basso and the Irishman Sean Kelly. A special honour goes to the Italian Vincenzo Nibali: he receives the jersey bearing race number 312, which last year was awarded to his compatriot Ivan Basso. The 38-year-old Nibali, from Messina in Sicily, won all three Grand Tours at least once during his career. The start list is therefore packed with stars. In total, the participants in the sportive have amassed 539 race or stage wins, as the organisers proudly announce.

World Cup-Winning Coach Lionel Scaloni Also Takes to the Pedals

It is not only former professional cyclists who are taking part in the event, but also other athletes who feel up to the 312, 225 or 167 kilometre routes. Among them, for example, is the World Cup-winning coach Lionel Scaloni of Argentina, who lives on Mallorca and is often out on his road bike. Unlike in previous years, the route this time does not run almost the whole way around the island but leaves out the entire south. The roughly 8,000 participants set off from Platja de Muro and ride via Port d'Alcúdia, Pollença and Lluc to Esporles.

From there, the riders tackling the 167 kilometres return to Platja de Muro via Campanet and Lloseta. Those covering 225 kilometres return to Platja de Muro via Andratx, Estellencs and Es Capdellà. Anyone taking on the full 312 kilometres branches off onto an additional loop beyond Campanet via Ariany and Artà, returning from there to Platja de Muro. The finish closes at 8:40 pm at the latest, after which the finish line is shut. Because of the sportive, some sections of road on Mallorca have to be closed to traffic on the Saturday. This year's Mallorca 312 therefore offers an exciting mix of prominent participants and demanding stretches of road. The race is sure to be an unforgettable experience for riders and spectators alike. The island of Mallorca once again proves the perfect backdrop for such a significant cycling event, attracting participants from all over the world to take on the challenge of 312, 225 or 167 kilometres. It remains to be seen who will emerge victorious from this spectacular event and what further exciting stories will unfold on the roads of Mallorca.