Faced with the unexpected world situation, with months of confinement at home and all travel plans cancelled, Pol Tarrés, Alex von Arend, Andreu Miró and Eloi Paré decided to go around the world. Menorca at mountainbike. It is an island that everyone has enjoyed many times but never by bike.
Pol, Alex, Andreu and Eloi, met many years ago practicing trial by bike and competing together and being with the Spanish national team in several trial world cups and world championships. Currently only Pol is still active and is one of the best riders in the world.
The trail they want to do is the Camí de Cavallsis an ancient path that surrounds the island of Menorca. The origin of the path is uncertain, but it is accepted that its function was military: it was a path that the watchmen used to protect the coast where the soldiers were mounted on horseback, hence the word "cavalls" (meaning "horses" in Catalan) in the name of the path. The path is divided into 20 different sections, each of them between 5 and 14 km and together they cover the whole island with a total of 185 km approximately. It is a long-distance trail that circles the entire island of Menorca passing through its most iconic and paradisiacal coves.
STAGE 1
The boys arrive in Menorca on Friday at 7:00 on the Balearia ferry as this is the easiest option. The ferry arrives in Ciutadella, from where they start, plus you enter the boat riding your bike, so you don't have to dismount it or put it in a suitcase and it's free with the ticket.
At 9:00 they leave the office of Camí de Cavalls 360, the agency that has helped them to design the stages and the whole trip before arriving and once there, logistically with the suitcases, supplies and possible assistance they need.
The first stage is the longest with about 87 kilometers and just over 900 meters of elevation gain. A priori it does not seem much but the terrain is very technical and hard because it is very rocky, in many areas little rolling and at some point you have to carry the bike.
The first km to the Cap d'Artrutx are very flat and you can ride well although there is still some mud from the rains of the week. They follow the coast overcoming the first obstacles that the road presents, giving a glimpse of what the island of Menorca is made of. After passing through several coves, they reach one of the most famous of the island: Macarella. It is surprising that one of the most iconic coves is totally empty. In fact, that's how it is for much of the year. A few meters later, on one of the descents, Alex cuts his tire on a rock and loses control of the bike and falls into a thicket. Luckily he only gets a bump and Andreu, with McGyver-like skills, fixes it with a piece of inner tube and 4 patches. The group resumes the march and between Galdana Cove y Son BouThe island's inland, changing the scenery of turquoise beaches, the
cliffs and the sea for lush forests, more typical of northern Spain than of the Balearic Islands, with much more pleasant trails and tracks.
Before arriving at Cala en Porter are quite difficult areas, steep climbs very difficult to overcome on the bike, even taking out his trial skills, yet easily surmountable carrying the bike. Arrived in Cala en Porter the sun has long since set, it begins to get dark and cold. It's time to get the batteries to reach the Artiem hotel. Capri Hotel Artiem in Maó, have dinner and get the bikes ready for the next day.
STAGE 2
According to the design of the stages, the second stage is the shortest and most accessible, with 49 kilometers and 650 meters of elevation gain, starting at Mao and ending in Ses Salines. It is the shortest and most rolling of the 3 with short and affordable climbs and descents. The landscape has changed, there are no longer white sand beaches and turquoise water, the north of the island is more rocky, so they are pebble beaches with shades of gray and dark blue water. Always with a lot of contrast.
In this part of the island the "Camí de Cavalls" crosses the "Camí de Cavalls".Natural Park of s'Albufera des Grau"with a contrasting landscape, agricultural areas, forests, wetlands and islets on the beaches. The profile of the stage has short ascents and descents with spectacular views of the beaches and contrasts of the areas through which it passes. As they are in good time, they decide to detour a little to visit the Favàritx lighthouse and the rock formations of dark gray and black colors and very little vegetation.
They decide to make a stop at Arenal des Castell before attacking the last km to Ses Salines where you pass a small part of cliffs and then get into a more wooded area until you reach the hotel.
STAGE 3
On the third day the accumulated fatigue begins to be very noticeable and there is still the hardest day. The last stage is not the longest but the hardest, warns Joan from Camí de Cavalls 360º and they can not trust the numbers as they are about 60 kilometers and just under 900 meters of elevation gain, a stage that, a priori, should not be a problem for any rider with some kilometers on his back. They recharge their batteries at the hotel with a good breakfast because it is not entirely clear if there will be time to eat because the intention is to reach the iconic Pont d'en Gil before the sun sets for the final photo.
Before leaving, Joan comments that there is an area that the locals call "Mordor". Eloi asks him why it is called "Mordor" to which Joan replies "Don't worry, when you get to Mordor you'll find out".
The first kilometers are very similar to the previous day with the difference of the orange and yellow tones of the beaches and the stones of the landscape. They reach the famous Pregonda coveone of the most emblematic of the island and enclosed by some islets called the Escullar de Pregonda. Arriving there, they find golden and reddish colors of clay.
The next part of the stage passes through a very virgin area, and one of the hardest, passing through the dreaded Mordor that Joan commented. The road is narrow and very broken, with loose stones and hellish slopes. Even with their trial skills the terrain is too much for them, so they have to push and at some point even carry the bike to overcome the most complicated steps. They reached the highest point of the stage, in which they have gone from 0 to 126 meters with a slope that at some points reached more than 35%.
According to Pol, the last part of the stage, of Morell Cove to the Pont de'n Gilhas been one of the hardest things he has done. They have added everything a little; the fatigue of the 3 days, it is the most remote and virgin part of the road so they could only make a provisioning before reaching Cala Pregonda, they ran out of water, and the terrain of the final part is the most broken, and less rolling of the island so it requires 100% concentration in addition to a good technical and physical level, any mistake means a fall. In addition Aitor, one of the cameramen, in a very rocky area with stones in the form of knives makes a cut to the wheel that the tubeless can not close, so they put a couple of wicks to close the hole to continue.
After two hours suffering through this terrain they arrive at the Pont d'en Gil, where the photographers Álvaro and Aitor take advantage of the sunset to take some impressive photos. From there to the center of Ciutadella they pass by Blanes Coveall on asphalt and at night to reach the hotel. Now they can say that they are finishers of Camí de Cavalls 360º.
FINAL
In general, Pol, Alex Andreu and Eloi commented that the route has been much more technically difficult than expected. The terrain is mostly rocky, steep and technical and requires a lot of concentration and not to let your guard down at any time, as mistakes are expensive because the falls are usually in areas of sharp stones.
Even so, the views and the places you pass through are a just reward, with constant contrasts, from beaches with turquoise waters, to forests and rural areas, passing through cliffs and unbeatable landscapes.
They also comment that it is important to have good logistics and to plan the stages carefully. Being a difficult terrain, there are often falls and broken equipment, so it is important to go with a minimum of mechanical experience, spare parts and first aid kit. In conclusion: Camí de Cavalls is a demanding route for those who want to enjoy the best views and paths of the Island of Menorca. It is recommended to do it with double XC bikes with rolling tires but with some cushion and above all with a maximum of 60 tpi or with side protection because otherwise there will be punctures every now and then.
Back home on the ferry, they discuss what could be the next adventure, Mallorca? Canary Islands? Depending on the pandemic situation they will decide, but I'm sure it won't be long before they venture into another project.
Riders:
- Pol Tarrés - @pol.tarres / www.poltarres.com
- Alex von Arend - @alexvonarend
- Eloi Paré - @eloipare49
- Andreu Miró - @andreumiro
Media team:
- Aitor Lamadrid - @aitorlamadrid / www.aitorlamadrid.com
- Alvaro Rodriguez - @alvarokrodriguez / www.alvarokrodriguez.com
