KILL THE HILL
So you’ve cycled Mallorca, ridden the Tramuntana mountains from Cap Formentor to Andratx, conquered Sa Calobra and hit the peak of Puig Major? Well, no you haven’t…
…but now you have the chance.
On May 6th 2023 the private military road leading up to the radar station perched on Mallorca’s highest peak at 1436m, the very top of Puig Major, will be opened to 300 cyclists courtesy of killthehill.cc. A once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity to truly take on the mighty Tramuntana mountain range and capture the magnificent 360 views across the entire island. chasing HIGHS founder Richard Johnson caught up with Jan Eric Schwarzer the man behind Kill the Hill and former German pro-cycling champion.
Courtesy of Kathrin Schafbauer
Jan Eric’s cycling career started at just six years old, on road, gravel and mountain bike rides and later on the track, while studying in Cologne, including a spell in stayer racing; slip-streaming motorbikes to maintain a formidable pace. All this saddle time ultimately led to him becoming German champion in 2007 and placing fourth in the European Championships in 2008. After hanging up his pro-cycling cap in 2013 he moved to Mallorca to put down roots in the tiny village of Sineu, founding MA-13 a bed & breakfast geared up for cyclists visiting the beautiful Baltic island.
“I was falling in love with Mallorca during the training camps I made here. Mallorca is not far away from Germany, so you don’t feel like you made a big move. The island has all you need and for sure a bit more. Mountains, sea, Palma city with its international flair and airport connected to the whole world.”
MA-13 was primarily born from the idea that many riders don’t like staying in hotels during private training camps due to the lack of support and accessibility, and also because the island was badly in need of some good coffee. So, first came the “MA-13 Coffee Car”, a 1985 classic blue electric Renault 4 serving up carefully crafted cups by the roadside all over the island, and then later in 2019 the Sa Mola 13 Cafe in Sineu followed.
Courtesy of Kathrin Schafbauer
So what’s the deal with Kill the Hill? This years event will be a social ride from Port de Pollenca to Puig Major, combined with a hill climb time-trial on the military road, to which Kill the Hill has been granted exclusive access to the peak, as it is usually closed to the public. Every cyclist visiting the island knows about the climb and it will feature on most peoples bucket list, but going all the way up was never possible, until now. After some discussion with the Spanish military who were open to the idea since they no longer share the camp with the US military, the event was given the green light allowing a maximum of 300 cyclists to take on the final seven kilometre stretch up to the radar station through some of the Serra Tramuntana’s most stunning landscapes, making this climb an unforgettable ride.
“It’s been a personal dream to arrive by bike on very top of Mallorca. Through the decades that I’ve been cycling the Tramuntana mountains, the military road to the highest point on the island seemed unattainable. Last year I heard that there may be a chance to open the road, I was sure that I would not be the only one who would like to go up and started to make plans for Kill the Hill. The goal is to give the participants a unique experience and an adventure they will always remember.”
The day long event will indeed be one to remember, kicking off with breakfast in Port de Pollenca on the north coast and closing with all the riders celebrating together at a Gala Dinner. For more details and to grab one of the final places visit killthehill.cc, www.ma-13.net, and to find a great cup of coffee check Instagram @ma13coffee.
For more routes around Mallorca and beyond check our Route Library
