Mt. Ventoux

May 22, 2019

The Giant of Provence

We were so lucky today. We are so happy. Just an amazing day. We went to bed unsure about what the day would bring. Many people reading the blog know that Mt. Ventoux looms over Provence and the classic route up is from Bédoin. The Tour de France has ascended Ventoux fifteen times. Of course we wanted to do it. It is an iconic climb.

When we went to bed the wind at the top was predicted to be between 40 and 50 km an hour today. This is on a very bald mountain top. When the winds are bad enough they close the summit. I learned on Google the wind at the summit blows 90+ kph an astonishing 240 days a year. We just weren’t sure we were going to be able to go up. The wind was still blowing a gale in the valley when we went to sleep. We discussed different options...stay another night in Bédoin and hope the wind changes or ride to Sault or Malaucène tomorrow and tackle it from there. Well, when we woke up this morning there wasn’t a breath of wind and it was predicted to be 15 km an hour at the top. The meteorologists had changed their minds. We were thrilled! Someone turned off the fan 😀.

We ate a substantial breakfast, stowed two pain au chocolat as energy bars and headed for the summit.

There is the goal, way up there in the beautiful blue sky.

The weather was absolutely perfect. It was just an amazing ride. We were both stunned at the number of people doing it on ebikes. We would guess at least 50%, and perhaps more. There were of course many road bikes, and two touring bikes.

Emerging from the forest. Our first glimpse of the summit in awhile.

Chalet Reynard. We refilled our water bottles and kept going.

Two touring bikes in the foreground, a bunch of ebikes in the background.

We just had an amazing ride. Keith stopped to take photographs but I adopted the Rachael Anderson ‘an object in motion stays in motion’ methodology. I did wait for Keith a few times, just to keep him in sight, but other than that I spun the pedals. There was lots to keep us entertained. The number of cyclists is stunning. Towards the top I kept passing a young man who would cycle by me, and then I would pass him walking minutes later. He did make it, sometime after the two of us, but it was a real struggle for him. It made me think of the tortoise and the hare. Slow but steady wins the race.

We met this lovely couple. I stopped to take a picture of the two of them together. They were on their way down. She has done all three approaches to Ventoux in one day. Now that is impressive.

My struggling friend. Note another walker further up.

Someone coming down. I loved the sound of the confident road biker’s jackets as they flew by on their descent. Lots of Tour de France painting on the road, most very faded. This, I suspect is someone supporting a group.

The Tom Simpson memorial. We stopped here to take a look.

We enjoyed the atmosphere at the summit, took the obligatory summit pictures and ate those two pain au chocolat. We did have some healthier things with us, ate those too, and supplemented our snacks with a Milka chocolate bar. Our motto, never cycle without chocolate. It was much warmer at the top than Stelvio last year, no snow today, but Ventoux is also about 800 m lower than Stelvio.

It is such a great feeling at the summit. A happy place to be.

We donned jackets and neck warmers for the descent, and we were off. It was quick and we were removing the extra clothing about half way down. We stopped at Chalet Reynard for a coffee and the next stop was our accommodation.

Local colour at the restaurant at Chalet Reynard. A fellow cyclist. Keith figures coolest dude on the mountain. His wife was equally interesting.

I spoke with our host after we came back down and she says they have had people come and stay for three days who can’t summit due to wind. It made me so grateful for our perfect day. It is howling out here again, but so warm I am writing the blog outside.

Now, after relaxing in our Chambre d’hôte, we are about to go for a celebratory dinner. And a little shopping. I have to buy the t-shirt.

https://www.relive.cc/view/2387940203

Today's ride: 46 km (29 miles)
Total: 1,116 km (693 miles)

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Comment on this entry	Comment	9

David MathersCongratulations...way to go!!
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5 years ago

Tricia GrahamI am very impressed
Tricia
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5 years ago

Barry BartlettWow!!!
Congratulations! Very impressive. We envy you and your lovely weather. In contrast we had terrible weather. Heavy rain and high winds all day.
All the best,
Barry and Mary Ellen
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5 years ago

Scott AndersonThat is so great! So happy for both of you. Isn’t it the most amazing moonscape? We were really fortunate with weather too on our ascent from Malaucene, and didn’t even know it. We weren’t aware that wind is such an issue, but of course it would be.
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5 years ago

Keith ClassenTo Scott AndersonWe were very fortunate to have perfect weather. Now as I recall you guys went up loaded. Now that is impressive!!!
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5 years ago

Suzanne GibsonWow, I get excited just reading about the ascent! 💪
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5 years ago

Scott AndersonTo Keith ClassenYup, loaded; and preloaded by the 15 mile ride from Nyons, with another 1,500’ of climbing; and it was 90 degrees. No way could we do that any more. If we go back some year, we’ll do it as a day ride too.
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5 years ago

Kathleen ClassenTo Scott AndersonI definitely think we are beyond that now!! If Keith and I could have ever done it. I told Keith the other day that I am going to start reporting our distance in km and our climbs in feet hehe. I told him it would sound ever more epic that way. He was horrified. I had to tell him it was a joke 😂. Sometimes he takes me way to seriously.
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5 years ago

Jacquie GaudetCongratulations! I, too, didn't realize wind was such a big factor. For us it was just heat. And I'm glad you got the shirt. Al bought his in Malaucène before the climb and I didn't want to jinx myself. I wish I'd gotten one too. I guess I'll have to go again someday.
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5 years ago