Ride the Mountain the Pros Respect!

Mont Ventoux on the climb from BédMont Ventoux is the mountain that even the pros respect. Due to the limestone composition near the summit and lack of vegetation, it often goes by the name of ‘The Bald Mountain’. It is also known as the ‘Giant of Provence’ as it stands tall above other mountains in the region. Technically it is part of the French Alps, although its position isolates it from the other great cols that have to be ridden. It has often been used in the Tour de France, and will be used in the 2016 race.

Even the Pros Respect Mont Ventoux

Mont Ventoux has established itself as the hardest mountain to ride on a bike. On the Bédoin to Ventoux run, you will ride an average gradient of 8.9%. To give you perspective, Alpe d’Huez, another famed difficult climb, has an average gradient of 7.9%.

This extra incline is significant. The Bedoin route is often favoured in the Tour de France.
Wind speed can be a factor as well especially when you get close to the summit. Although we do not ride at a time when the weather is severe, it will be a factor when you ride to the top.

Riding the Giant of Provence

There are three routes to climb Ventoux, with Bédoin being the most difficult. Nonetheless, the other two routes offer challenge and you should never underestimate them. Malaucene is a 22km ride, and features gentler gradients, overall. You will experience, however, gradients up to and over 10%.

Ventoux summit climbing from Malaucène

The Sault to Ventoux route is the easiest ascent of the mountain. The gradients are kinder, but some still exceed 10% as the last 6 km are similar, in terms of steepness, as coming up from the Bédoin.

Climbing Mont Ventoux puts cyclists into two camps. Those that have taken on the challenge of Mont Ventoux, and those that have not. If you have ridden it you can say you are a rider of some note. Regardless of your time.

The pros ride Ventoux in around an hour and fifteen minutes. The fastest time was 55’51, achieved by Iban Mayo in 2004.

Riding Mont Ventoux with SportActive

Riding Ventoux is the closest most of us will get to riding in the Tour de France. As such our cycling tour will give you the full Tour de France experience for the ride. You will receive full coaching from Martin and his team for your week along with mechanical assistance as you scale two sides of the infamous col, including the infamous Bédoin route.

Not only can say you have ridden the Giant of Provence, but you will be a better rider than before you arrived.

As well as riding Ventoux our tour features five other rides in Provence. All the roads are used in the Tour de France or Paris – Nice races.

To discover more about our Ventoux tour click here.

Summit of Mont Ventoux on the climb from Bédoin

submitted on 10/12/2015