A Climb Much harder than Sa Calobra
Sobremunt (es Verger) is the hardest climb in Mallorca bar none. With a maximum gradient of 19% and an average of 8% over the 7.5 km, you gain 580m, each one of them very well earned.
There is the added benefit of being literally no traffic. Take care also as there are very few signposts – just following the gradient – if the road rises follow it! Tough to see signs through all the sweat anyhow.
There are two ways to climb it, the more picturesque and easiest way (and therefore not the toughest climb in Mallorca!) is from Esporles and takes you through the Es Verger vineyard. This however is cheating, and in our opinion the best (read toughest) is from the South (from the ma-1041). Sobremund is unlike any other climb in Mallorca. For a start, the surface is only OK at the start and halfway along until the summit is full of badly repaired potholes and loose gravel. Then, the gradient reaches a maximum of 19% which is unheard of in Mallorca where the norm is a gentler 5 – 8%.
Our recommended route descends through the Es Verger vineyard into Esporles as the surface is better this way. Not brilliant, but better.
Enjoy!
Sources:
-Mallorca Cycle Shuttle
-Global Cycling Network (GCN)
