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SPAIN · SPORTIVE

MALLORCA 312 TRAINING PLAN.

The Mallorca 312 is spring's most talked-about sportive — 312km around Mallorca with 5,000m+ of climbing, including the classic Tramuntana climbs that define road cycling on the island. Runs in late April. Open-road format, closed to traffic in parts. Route varies year to year; some editions include Sa Calobra, others do not.

312 km·5,050 m climbing·10-14 hours·April

THE OVERVIEW

WHAT THE MALLORCA 312 ACTUALLY IS

TERRAIN

Three distinct sections: a mountainous opening 100km through the Tramuntana, a long flat-rolling middle section across the Pla, and a finishing loop that varies year to year. Some editions include Sa Calobra; others don't. Either way, you're climbing on tired legs late in the day.

WEATHER

Late April Mallorca starts cold (8-12°C in the Tramuntana before sunrise) and finishes hot (25-30°C on the Pla central plain after midday). The temperature swing across one ride is the kit problem most first-timers underestimate.

FITNESS DEMANDS

WHAT YOU NEED TO ARRIVE WITH.

MINIMUM FTP

3.0 W/kg

to finish, well-fuelled

COMPETITIVE FTP

3.8 W/kg

to ride the day on your terms

ENDURANCE

12-15 hours/week peaking at 16-20 weeks out, with at least three back-to-back weekends of 5-6 hour rides paired with 3-4 hour rides the next day. You need to have done one ride longer than 8 hours in training before April.

WHY THESE NUMBERS MATTER HERE

The 312 is a fuelling-and-pacing event before it's an FTP event. 3.0 W/kg is enough to finish if your endurance and nutrition are both dialled in. 3.8+ W/kg lets you ride in groups with intent and finish under 11 hours.

CLIMBING DEMANDS

THE CLIMBS, IN ORDER.

Around 5,000-5,200m of climbing on the long course, depending on whether Sa Calobra is in the route. The Tramuntana climbs come stacked early — Coll de Sóller, Puig Major, Coll dels Reis (the Sa Calobra return) — and most riders are still fresh at this point. The trap is the middle section: 150km of rolling tempo where it's tempting to push the pace and easy to undereat.

COLL DE SÓLLER

KM 35-50
7.8 km·6.3% avg·486 m gain

Switchback warm-up climb. Pace this at high Z2 — it's a primer, not the race.

PUIG MAJOR

KM 60-75
12.6 km·6.6% avg·11% max·820 m gain

Highest point on the island. Sustained tempo for 50+ minutes. Control your HR — a 10-watt overshoot here costs you 30 minutes at the back end.

SA CALOBRA (RETURN)

KM 95-110 (ROUTE DEPENDENT)
9.5 km·7% avg·12% max·668 m gain

If the year's route includes Sa Calobra you descend ~10km to the sea, then climb ~10km back out at sustained 7%. Many riders bonk on the return because they ate going down, not up.

COLL DE FEMENIA

KM 130
7.8 km·5.7% avg·445 m gain

Last sustained Tramuntana climb before the Pla. From here, the climbing is over but the day isn't.

EXPECTED FINISH TIMES

WHERE YOU'LL LAND.

Use these bands to set a realistic goal. Pick the band closest to your current fitness — not the one above it. Pacing a band you haven't earned is the fastest way to a back-half blow-up.

FIRST-TIME FINISHER

13-14 hours

FTP 2.8-3.2 W/kg, 8-10 hours/week, longest ride 6-7 hours.

AVERAGE ENTHUSIAST

11-13 hours

FTP 3.2-3.7 W/kg, 10-12 hours/week, longest ride 7-8 hours.

STRONG AMATEUR

9-11 hours

FTP 3.7-4.2 W/kg, 12-15 hours/week, multiple 6+ hour rides, structured intervals.

ELITE AMATEUR

8-9 hours

FTP 4.2+ W/kg, 14-18 hours/week, racing background, group-pace tempo work, gut trained to 100g+ carbs/hour.

Predict your Mallorca 312 finish time →

12-16 WEEK TRAINING FRAMEWORK

HOW THE BUILD ACTUALLY GOES.

Four phases shaped around the Mallorca 312. Aerobic base, structured build, peak block, taper. Volume and intensity move in opposite directions on the way to race day. Skip a phase and the day rides you, not the other way round.

BASE.

WEEKS 16-13 · 12-14 H

Mallorca 312 is a fuelling and endurance event before it's an FTP event. Build the aerobic depth that supports 10+ hours on the bike — 80% of riding in Zone 2, conversational pace, fuelled from minute 30. Volume is the work.

ANCHOR SESSION

One 5-hour Z2 ride per week on rolling terrain, fuelled at 70-80g carbs/hour. No structured intervals.

LATE BASE.

WEEKS 12-9 · 13-15 H

Long ride extends to 6-7 hours. Tempo work introduces structured intensity without compromising volume. Back-to-back weekends start appearing — 5-6 hour Saturday paired with 3-4 hour Sunday.

ANCHOR SESSION

Tempo sandwich — 2x20 minutes at 76-88% FTP inside a 2-hour Z2 ride, plus a 6-hour weekend ride that includes one 30-minute climb.

BUILD.

WEEKS 8-5 · 14-16 H

Threshold work layers on, but volume stays high — Mallorca rewards endurance over peak power. Long ride builds to 7-8 hours with sustained climbing. Gut training to 90-100g carbs/hour starts in earnest.

ANCHOR SESSION

2x20 minutes at 91-100% FTP plus one 7-8 hour ride with 2,000m+ climbing. Practice race-day fuelling on every long ride.

PEAK + TAPER.

WEEKS 4-2 · 10-12 H DROPPING TO 6-8 H

Volume drops 25-30%. One 6-7 hour Mallorca simulation at goal pace with full fuelling rehearsed. Then taper. Heat acclimation block in the final 14 days if logistics allow.

ANCHOR SESSION

Mallorca simulation — 6-7 hours at 65% FTP ceiling with two sustained climbs and full race-day fuelling. Final 10 days: race-pace openers, full rest before travel.

WEEK-BY-WEEK PLANS

HOW LONG TILL YOUR MALLORCA 312?

Six weeks-out windows, each built around the demands of this course. Pick the one that matches your window today. The framework is free; coaching makes it personal.

16 WEEKS OUT

BASE PHASE

Aerobic foundation. High volume, low intensity. Don't skip this.

12 WEEKS OUT

LATE BASE

Bridge phase. Volume still rules, but structure begins.

8 WEEKS OUT

BUILD PHASE

Structured intensity enters. Threshold + VO2 max work.

4 WEEKS OUT

PEAK PHASE

Event-specific sharpening. Volume drops, quality rises.

2 WEEKS OUT

TAPER

Sharpness is banked. Now shed fatigue.

1 WEEK OUT

RACE WEEK

Don't do anything clever. Eat, sleep, show up.

FUELLING STRATEGY

EAT LIKE THE DAY DEMANDS.

10+ hours of riding makes the 312 a carbohydrate problem. Target 80g carbs/hour minimum, 100g if your gut is trained — that's roughly 32 gels' worth across the day, plus solid food at every aid station. Once the heat lands around midday, fluid demands climb to 750ml/hour with electrolytes; cold morning bottles in the Tramuntana can be 500ml/hour and feel like more. The Pollença aid station around km 80 is your 'second breakfast' moment — eat real food here, not just gels, because the Pla section that follows is a long calorie burn with no shade. Skip one aid station and the back 100km becomes a survival ride; skip two and you DNF.

PACING STRATEGY

RIDE IT IN THE RIGHT ORDER.

Pace the opening 100km at 60-65% FTP maximum, even when you feel fresh. The Tramuntana climbs reward patience and punish hero rides. Through the middle section across the Pla, sit in groups — drafting saves 25-30% of your output and keeps you below threshold while still moving. The last 100km is where the field thins: riders who fuelled correctly can hold tempo, and riders who didn't are walking gradients they cruised five hours earlier. If Sa Calobra is on the route, treat the descent as a rest opportunity — eat, drink, freewheel — and the climb back as a 50-minute sub-threshold effort. No heroes.

EQUIPMENT ESSENTIALS

WHAT TO BRING. WHAT TO LEAVE.

The kit choices that change the day. Most DNFs at this level trace back to gearing, hydration storage, or layers for the descent — not fitness. Sort the kit and the training does its job.

GEARING

34x32 minimum. The Tramuntana climbs are sustained 6-7% — not steep, but long. Sa Calobra return at 7% with 100km in the legs feels harder than fresh-leg gradients suggest. 34x34 if you have it.

BOTTLES + FUEL

Two bottle cages plus a frame bag or extra jersey storage for the long Pla section. Carry 12+ gels and 4+ bars for in-effort fuelling between feed stops. Aim for 80-100g carbs/hour — the gut has to be trained for this in advance.

CLIMATE KIT

Long-finger gloves and gilet for the cold Tramuntana opening (8-12°C pre-dawn). Light arm warmers for the Sa Calobra descent. Light-coloured jersey + cooling sleeves for the Pla heat once midday lands.

TYRES

25-28mm road tubeless. Mallorca tarmac is generally excellent but the Sa Calobra descent is technical. Tubeless gives you puncture margin on the long valley sections.

HEAT + HYDRATION

750ml-1L per hour from km 100. Electrolyte mix in every bottle once the temperature climbs past 25°C. Sunscreen reapplied at every feed; UV at midday in late April is brutal even when the temperature feels mild.

COMMON MISTAKES

DON'T DO THIS.

Patterns we see at the Mallorca 312 every year. Each one has a fix that costs nothing — except the discipline to actually use it on the day.

MISTAKE

Picking the 312 because you've done other long sportives

FIX

Mallorca's combination of distance and Mediterranean heat makes it different to a Wicklow 200 or a Marmotte. Drop to the 225 or 167 if your longest training ride hasn't passed 7 hours. There's no medal for a DNF.

MISTAKE

Underfuelling the first 80km because the climbing starts easy

FIX

Start eating inside 30 minutes. The Tramuntana is where you bank the carbs for the Pla — the climbs are the easy part of fuelling because your gut is fresh and the temperature is mild.

MISTAKE

Forgetting Sa Calobra is a sustained climb, not a gentle return

FIX

If the route includes Sa Calobra, ride the descent at sub-threshold, eat both ways, and treat the return climb as a controlled 50-minute Z3 effort. Riders who attack the bottom of the return ride the top in pieces.

STUCK BEFORE THE EVENT?

FIND OUT WHY YOUR FTP HAS PLATEAUED.

The Plateau Diagnostic is a 5-minute assessment that identifies the specific reason your training has stopped producing results. Built for riders 35+ who have been doing the work but watching the numbers stall. You'll get a profile-matched recommendation in your inbox.

Take the Diagnostic →

GO DEEPER

THE READING THAT BUILT THIS PLAN.

Curated long-form pieces on the methods and mistakes behind the framework above. Pick the one that addresses the gap you actually have right now.

DEEPER READ

Mallorca 312 Training Guide: The Long Read

The deeper article on training for Mallorca — methodology, sessions, and the fuelling strategy that defines who finishes.

DEEPER READ

Carbs Per Hour: Fuel Like a Pro

Mallorca demands 80-100g/hour for 10+ hours. Most amateurs ride below the gut's actual ceiling — this is how you train it up before race day.

DEEPER READ

Heat Training for Cyclists

The Pla central plain regularly hits 28-30°C by midday. Heat acclimation in the 14 days before race day is worth more than any aero gain.

DEEPER READ

Cycling Cramp Prevention

Long heat-soaked rides + sodium losses = cramps in the back half. The protocol that prevents them.

DEEPER READ

Sportive Nutrition Plan: 100 Miles+

Hour-by-hour nutrition for a long sportive day. The framework you scale up for 312km.

DEEPER READ

Polarised Training: The 80/20 Approach

The training distribution that builds the aerobic depth a 10+ hour day demands. Anchored in Professor Stephen Seiler's research.

DEEPER READ

How to Taper for a Sportive

Two-week taper protocol that arrives at the start line fresh, not flat. Most Mallorca DNFs trace back to a final block trained too hard.

RACE PREDICTOR

WHAT WILL YOU ACTUALLY RIDE?

Plug your numbers into the Race Predictor and we'll model your Mallorca 312 finish time on the actual course profile — climb-by-climb, with pacing recommendations.

Predict your Mallorca 312 time

FAQ

MALLORCA 312 TRAINING, ANSWERED.

What FTP do I need for the Mallorca 312?

The 312 is a fuelling-and-pacing event before it's an FTP event. 3.0 W/kg is enough to finish if your endurance and nutrition are both dialled in. 3.8+ W/kg lets you ride in groups with intent and finish under 11 hours. A practical floor is 3.0 W/kg to finish; 3.8 W/kg to ride competitively.

How long should I train for the Mallorca 312?

Most riders benefit from 12-16 weeks of structured preparation. 12-15 hours/week peaking at 16-20 weeks out, with at least three back-to-back weekends of 5-6 hour rides paired with 3-4 hour rides the next day. You need to have done one ride longer than 8 hours in training before April. If you have less time, the 8-week and 4-week plans still produce a meaningful result on the right starting fitness.

What's the typical finish time for the Mallorca 312?

Amateur finishers cover the full range. First-time finisher: 13-14 hours; Average enthusiast: 11-13 hours; Strong amateur: 9-11 hours; Elite amateur: 8-9 hours. The difference between bands is climbing fitness and fuelling discipline more than flat speed.

What's the biggest mistake riders make at the Mallorca 312?

Picking the 312 because you've done other long sportives. Fix: Mallorca's combination of distance and Mediterranean heat makes it different to a Wicklow 200 or a Marmotte. Drop to the 225 or 167 if your longest training ride hasn't passed 7 hours. There's no medal for a DNF.

How should I pace the Mallorca 312?

Pace the opening 100km at 60-65% FTP maximum, even when you feel fresh. The Tramuntana climbs reward patience and punish hero rides. Through the middle section across the Pla, sit in groups — drafting saves 25-30% of your output and keeps you below threshold while still moving. The last 100km is where the field thins: riders who fuelled correctly can hold tempo, and riders who didn't are walking gradients they cruised five hours earlier. If Sa Calobra is on the route, treat the descent as a rest opportunity — eat, drink, freewheel — and the climb back as a 50-minute sub-threshold effort. No heroes.

When does the Mallorca 312 take place?

The Mallorca 312 typically runs in April. Count back from your event date and pick the weeks-out plan that matches your window.

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

PLAN MADE FOR YOU, NOT FOR THE AVERAGE.

The framework here gets you in the right territory. Inside the Not Done Yet community ($195/mo), the plan gets built around your FTP, your week, your weeks remaining, and your delivery via TrainingPeaks — with a weekly call where Anthony walks through the questions members are bringing in.

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