You may have seen a plentitude of cyclists on Mallorcan country roads over the last few days. There is a reason for that invasion, the XIX Challenge Ciclista a Mallorca. The race starts today with participants from Spain, Argentina, Italy, Portugal, Colombia, France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Germany, Czech Republic, Estonia, Great Britain, Netherlands, China, the USA, Denmark, Russia, Poland, Luxembourg, plus some other countries. This year, the Challenge takes place over five days in different parts of the island, today with 116 km of urban course along Palma’s seafront and the Avenidas, tomorrow a challenge of 172 km from Cala Millor to Son Servera via Santanyí, on Tuesday a circuit of 157 km from Inca to Can Picafort, Sóller and back to Inca, a race over 143 km on Wednesday starting and finishing in Deià via Binissalem and Alcúdia, and, finally, a course of 158 km on Thursday from Magaluf to Andratx, Banyalbufar, Valdemossa and Calvià to Palmanova. There will be daily winners as well as a combined classification Challenge trophy. Good luck to all and sundry.

The photo (top) was taken near Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: February 6th, 2010. The time was 12:34:26. The photo (bottom) was taken from the Internet, courtesy of vueltamallorca.com.

Muchas gracias.