6Points Mallorca at 10: The Challenge That Became a Family
6Points Challenges is not a race. It has never wanted to be.
What it is, as it approaches its tenth anniversary, is something far more enduring. A three day circumnavigation of Mallorca that blends grit with generosity, serious climbing with serious camaraderie, and a commitment to raising funds for local causes through a model that remains refreshingly transparent.
Founded by Bryan Visser, the event was born from a simple question. How do you share everything that makes cycling in Mallorca extraordinary without turning it into another competitive showdown?
Bryan had fallen in love with the island whilst cycling its roads, from the open interior plains to the relentless gradients of the Serra de Tramuntana. He knew the magic of those routes, the way the landscape shifts within a single morning ride, the way the sea appears just when you need a lift. But he also knew that the real beauty of Mallorca cycling lies in the shared experience.
In 2017, after presenting the idea to Calvià’s Deputy Mayor for Sport, Eva Serra, the first edition rolled out. No one knew then that it would become a fixture on the island’s cycling calendar. What they did know, even after that first event, was that something different was happening. Riders were not simply chasing personal bests. They were riding together, supporting each other and raising funds for others.
Over three days, participants ride around the whole island, staying in quality hotels and sharing evenings that are as much about storytelling and laughter as recovery and refuelling. It is demanding, deliberately so. The flagship routes now include the formidable Everesting option, widely regarded as one of the toughest organised challenges on Mallorca, alongside the equally serious Muntanas route and the slightly less punishing, but still very respectable, Valles option.
Distances stretch beyond 400 kilometres for the Muntanas riders, with thousands of metres of climbing compressed into a long weekend. Yet the structure makes it accessible. Riders choose their “Harmony” group, from fast paced Espresso to steady Cappuccino or social Latte. Each group is led by experienced captains and supported by dedicated crew vehicles stocked with nutrition, tools and encouragement.
The emphasis is not on speed, but on spirit.
That ethos is something familiar to listeners of the Majorca Mallorca podcast. Oliver Neilson, co presenter of the show, sits on the 6Points committee and has ridden multiple editions himself. He has experienced the long climbs, the quiet internal battles and the emotional finish line moments that define the event. For him, as for many returning riders, it is the combination of physical challenge and community connection that keeps drawing him back.
Charity has been central from the outset. The founders committed to what they describe as a pure charity model. No remuneration for committee members. No administrative deductions from donations. One hundred per cent of funds raised go directly to the supported causes.
Over the past decade, more than €330,000 has been raised for local organisations including Asdica, SOS Animal and Shambhala. The ambition for this anniversary year is to pass €400,000 in total donations.
That level of transparency matters. In a world where charitable fundraising can sometimes feel opaque, 6Points has built trust by keeping its model simple and accountable. Volunteers give their time freely. Riders fundraise with clarity about where their efforts are going. The result is an event that strengthens the island community as much as it tests physical endurance.
Beyond the flagship Mallorca edition, 6Points has expanded to other islands including Ibiza, Formentera, Menorca and Tenerife, carrying the same format and values across the Balearics and beyond. Monthly training rides in Mallorca now form part of the rhythm of the local cycling community, offering riders a structured way to prepare while building friendships along the way.
The digital side has grown too. Since 2019, 6Points has hosted rides on the Zwift platform, introducing tens of thousands of cyclists worldwide to the concept. For some, a virtual ride becomes the first step towards standing on a Mallorcan start line.
What keeps people returning is not simply the elevation gain or the carefully planned logistics. It is the shared hardship. The final kilometres when legs are heavy and conversation fades. The quiet nods of encouragement between riders. The collective sense of achievement when the island loop is complete.
As 6Points enters its second decade, the mission remains grounded. Grow the reach. Deepen the impact. Continue supporting Mallorcan charities in a meaningful, sustainable way. And above all, preserve the atmosphere that has defined it from the start.
It is easy to describe 6Points in numbers, kilometres ridden, metres climbed, euros raised. But those figures only tell part of the story. The real measure lies in the friendships formed, the confidence gained and the knowledge that effort on the bike can translate into tangible support for the island that hosts it.
Ten years on, what began as a love letter to cycling in Mallorca has become something larger. A challenge, yes. But also a community. And for many riders, including familiar voices from the Majorca Mallorca podcast, a family that reconvenes each year to ride, to give and to prove that endurance is stronger when it is shared.
You can listen to an interview with Bryan Visser here.
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