Brilliant picture Mark, as they pass the Habitat
Apartments going towards Pollensa Town, looks to be really beautiful weather with the clear blue sky above.
Here is a bit more info’.
The cycle racing is the International Masters Cycling Week which incorporates the European Masters Cup on the 8th October, the International Masters Trophy on the 9th October and the ‘XVth Tour of Mallorca Masters Challenge’ on the 11th to the 13th October which, I understand, is contested annually. The headquarters for the event are at Playa Garden
Hotel which is at Playa de Muro, Alcudia.
The event is contested in many age groups and is for men only, of any nationality, with a 2012 Masters UCI Licence processed by its own National Cycling Federation.
It is sponsored by Alcudia and Pollensa Town Councils, Tolo’s Bar/Restaurant, and various
hotels as well as the bigger sponsors such as Coca Cola, Air Europa,
Europcar, Ultima Hora newspaper and many others, so quite a big following.
There are five categories (age groups) for the racing as follows:
Senior - For riders born between 1983 and 1987
Master 30 - For riders born between 1973 and 1982
Master 40 - For riders born between 1963 and 1972
Master 50 - For riders born between 1953 and 1962
Master 60 - For riders born between 1943 and 1952
Master 50 and 60 races are slightly over 70 Km long - Master 30, 40 and Senior races are somewhat over 100 Km long.
The first three riders in each category will get on the ‘podium’ and be awarded trophies.
The winners ‘Maillot’ (Jersey) will also be presented. They are quite prestigious races.
There appears to be both qualifying and final races covering the different age groups in the Tour of Mallorca Masters Challenge, so quite a bit of very energetic and mountainous cycling to do.
There are also ‘Flying Finish Stages’ in Puerto Pollensa, Inca and Santa Margalida - In the Senior, Masters 30 and Masters 40 races these are at Tolo’s Bar/Restaurant (Km 35) and at Inca in stage 1 of the proceedings. The ‘Mountain Stages’ are on the Coll de sa Batalla and the Coll de sa Communa.
There are many other prize winners apart from the overall individual results. These are for Flying Finishes, Mountain Climbing (on the bike!!! - not on foot!!!), Balearic, Spanish and Foreign Teams, as well as the same for Individuals and for the first ‘Mallorcan’ rider home.
Best I can do for information on the cycling around the P.P. area this week - please excuse me if I have got any of the details slightly wrong!
I’m sure I’ve seen some excellent film of these races somewhere, either on You-Tube or possibly on the Television fairly recently.
Cycling enthusiasts maybe able to put me right on this one if any mistakes.