From Sóller to the Coll de Sóller (1,631 ft / 497 m) it is 5.6 miles (9 km) at an average of 5.2%: 1,549 ft (472 m) of climbing on the Ma-11A, the old road to Palma. CyclingCols gives 9 km, 472 m and a 9.3% maximum; Climbfinder 5.5 miles (8.9 km), 1,552 ft (473 m) and 9.5% on its worst 100 m (330 ft); altimetrias.net, which starts closer to Port de Sóller, 6 miles (9.68 km) and 1,598 ft (487 m).
What the climb is like
You leave Sóller on the ring road toward Palma and, just before the tunnel entrance, which is closed to bicycles, you take the old road toward the pass. Up to that turnoff there is a fair amount of traffic; from there on, almost no cars. The road narrows and climbs the hillside in a staircase of hairpins: Climbfinder counts 30. The grade is gentle and very steady, almost always between 5 and 7%, and there is plenty of shade from pine and holm oak. From the bends you can see the Sóller valley, with its orange and olive groves.
Its history
The Coll de Sóller appears in the Vuelta a España when the race visits Mallorca: according to CyclingCols, Antonio Menéndez (1975), Roland Le Clerc (1991) and José Luis Rubiera (1998) crested it first. Today it is one of the most ridden climbs for the thousands of cyclists who come to the island every spring.
When to go, water and traffic
All year: Mallorca’s climate is mild and the pass barely tops 1,600 ft (500 m). From February to May there are lots of cyclists. There is a fountain, the Font de la Reina, on the left at km 8.4. Sóller has everything you need.
What gearing to use
At 3 W/kg (watts per kilogram of body weight) and 159 lb (72 kg), you climb at about 9.3 mph (15 km/h) on average: on a 34x25 that is about 89 rpm. Many riders climb it in the big ring. Check your combinations in the gear calculator.
Tips
- Enjoy the bends: it is one of the prettiest climbs on the island and you do not need to go all out.
- On the descent, watch out for the tight hairpins and the cyclists coming up.
- From Sóller you can also ride the Puig Major, and a little farther away Sa Calobra.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to climb the Coll de Sóller?
From Sóller, a 159 lb (72 kg) rider on a 21 lb (9.5 kg) bike takes about 35 min at 3 W/kg (216 W), 41 min at 2.5 W/kg and 28 min at 4 W/kg. Work out your own time with your weight and power in the calculator on this page.
Can you ride a bike through the Sóller tunnel?
No: bicycles are banned from the tunnel. You have to climb the old road, the Ma-11A, which is exactly the road over the pass.
Which side of the Coll de Sóller is harder?
The north side, from Sóller: 5.6 miles (9 km) at 5.2%. The south side, from Bunyola or Palmanyola, is gentler, around 3.5-4.5%.