THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW
BUILD THE INTENSITY.
Eight weeks out, the build phase kicks in. One threshold session, one VO2 max session, and the long ride all in a week. Volume stays high, but now intensity layers on top. This is where your FTP should start climbing — if it doesn't, distribution is wrong, not effort.
THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION
2X20MIN THRESHOLD
Warm up 15min. 2x20min at 91-105% FTP with 5min recovery between. Cool down. Hit the target power both reps — if you fade the second, you started too hard. This is your bread-and-butter threshold session.
EVENT INTEL
WHAT THE MALLORCA 312 ACTUALLY DEMANDS
The Mallorca 312 is spring's most talked-about sportive — 312km around Mallorca with 5,000m+ of climbing, including Sa Calobra, the iconic hairpin-laced descent-then-climb that defines the day. Runs in late April. Open-road format, closed to traffic in parts.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
- ✓Sa Calobra — 10km descent into the sea then 10km climb back out, 7% average
- ✓Coll de Sóller tunnel + classic north-coast climbs stacked early
- ✓312km distance means fuelling strategy determines who finishes
- ✓Three distance options: 312km, 225km, 167km — pick realistically
- ✓Weather shift from cold morning climbs to afternoon Mediterranean heat
COMMON MISTAKES
- ✕Choosing the 312 because you've done other long sportives — Mallorca's combination of distance + heat is different
- ✕Underfuelling the first 80km because the climbing starts easy
- ✕Forgetting the Sa Calobra climb is a 9% average, not a gentle return — many riders bonk here
PACING
The 312 is a fueling problem more than a fitness one. Pace the opening 100km at 60-65% FTP maximum. Ride the middle 100km conservatively with strict carb/fluid discipline. The last 100km is where preparation shows — those who fuelled correctly can even push. The Sa Calobra climb is at 220km — arrive with reserves, not red-lined.
FUELLING
10+ hours means 80g carbs/hour minimum, 100g if gut-trained. 500-750ml fluid/hour once the heat kicks in. Food at every aid station on the route — don't skip any. Electrolytes become dominant after hour 6. A 'second breakfast' at the Pollença aid stop (km 80) is a classic move.
KIT
Long-finger gloves + gilet for the first two hours (cold on the climbs pre-dawn). 34x30 minimum, 34x32 recommended for Sa Calobra late in the day. Extra bottle cages or a frame bag for the long desert-like middle section.
WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?
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OTHER PHASES FOR THE MALLORCA 312