Cycle tourism worth 150 million euros per year

According to the site creators yesterday, an average of 150,000 cyclists, be they amateur or professional, come to the Balearics every year and generate some 150 million euros for the local economy and spend one million bed nights in the region.

The new website is also going to be promoting the region’s increasing number of triathlons and provides all the information cyclists or triathletes need.

The web site features a wealth of cycling routes and will inform about distance, difficulties and services along the route, accommodation, cycle repair shops, restaurants, super markets, sports centres and a guide of events happening in the region.

"Majorca climate and excellent secondary roads have converted the island into one of the most popular cycling destinations in Europe over the past decade," the creators of the web site said yesterday.

The site, which is English, French, German and Spanish, has been designed to meet all the needs of cyclists coming to the island and all of the recommended routes and establishments can be scrutinsed and located by using Google Maps.

And, earlier this year, Palma hosted the region’s first ever international Cycling Convention which proved a huge success and is going to be bigger and better next year as the island’s cycle community joins forces to maximize the potential the region has as a world class cycling destination. For example, during the winter, the island is used by a number of the best professional cycling teams in the world as a winter training camp.

For example, Team Sky has been using Alcudia as its winter training base since the team was formed and the British cycling team has been using Pollensa and Alcudia for over the past ten years with many international cyclists using the Tour of Majorca race as their opening competition of the season.

The Palma Arena Velodrome in Palma is also popular with track cyclists from the UK and other European countries.