The Mallorca 312 cycle challenge has caused a great deal of frustration in recent years. The event embraces numerous municipalities - thirty this year - and requires road closures. The organisers have sought to improve the situation. There was plenty of advance warning, and the Guardia Civil say that yesterday's event provoked fewer traffic problems than previously.
Nevertheless, there was inconvenience in parts of the Tramuntana. In Soller, traffic ground to a halt and tailbacks were such that some tourists were apparently unable to get to the airport and missed their flights. Businesses in the town and elsewhere in the mountains, such as Deya, say that they suffered because of road closures: visitors were unable to enter.
Some 8,000 cyclists set off from Playa de Muro (which was also the finishing point) at seven in the morning. The event lasted until nine in the evening. There were three trials altogether - the main one of 312 kilometres, a second one of 225 kilometres, under the sponsored title of Better in Winter, and the third was 167 - Goldcar.
Although it isn't a race as such, there were champions. The Belgian Rein Coertjens completed the 312 course in the fastest time of eight hours and 54 minutes. Spanish rider Elena Bris was the quickest female in a time of ten hours and 49 minutes.