Day 20: Mont Ventoux

September 20, 2022

Fifteen years ago we climbed Le Géant de Provence and we decided to add it to this trip since we were going to be in the neighborhood. However, our final decision to climb or not to climb would be based on weather because this mountain is famous for its wind. And then there’s the decision of which way to attack it since there are three different ways to climb it.

Our breakfast discussion included: 1) will we or won’t we (weather decision), and 2) which route (Bédoin or Sault).

After three days of being in the Mistral, we aren’t excited about riding in wind. Surprise: there’s no wind today!! Therefore, we will. But which route?

We rode through the Gorges de La Nesque slowly yesterday and saw it up close. There’s also the possibility of road closure while they extract the vehicle that went over the edge on Sunday. We rode the route up from Bédoin in 2007, so we decided to try a different route - from Sault. It’s a longer climb, but gentler. We also decided that the next time we’re in the neighborhood we’ll have to do the third route from Malaucene.

It was pretty cold this morning, 8-10C, when we left town. Shortly after the climb began we had to shed the extra layers of clothing. It was truly a perfect temperature for a climb today.

The only lavender field that hasn’t been harvested

The lavender fields we rode through yesterday and this morning were all harvested. As we shed our extra layers, I noticed this one still had flowers, albeit dried up. The photo didn’t turn out very good … but I had to take this one for my friend, Eve.

The distance was right, but I don’t think they know how to measure elevation accurately. Lol!!

Sault is down there in the middle of the valley floor. But don’t be fooled, it is a climb into Sault itself.

It was amazing how many bikes we saw today on our route. Not only road bikes, but guys climbing on mountain bikes, men and women on electric bikes, a woman on a hand operated trike, and a woman with tiny legs whose apparatus was maneuvered by using her arms with poles. The crowd cheered when she summited!

Today was about working, so we didn’t get very many photos.

It is so nice and warm up here. Not a breath of wind. How did we get so lucky?!?!

We ditched all the extra bags from the bike for today’s ride. What a difference it makes!

The landscape (or should I say moonscape)

I was asked about cars up there. There truly weren’t that many parked along the road at the top. And most were providing support to their cyclists, as well as, cheering other cyclists on.

Magnificent views - those are white clouds, not snow

This is a section of the road we climbed up. The bourn indicated 8.5% average for the kilometer and a half.

If you look closely, you’ll see the Rhône River down there.

A salad for lunch at the Chalet below the summit

Stats: 51.6 kilometers 1,238 meters elevation

Today's ride: 51 km (32 miles)
Total: 1,650 km (1,025 miles)

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Eve KofskyThanks for the shoutout! Loving your journey, and of course the Lavender!!
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2 years ago

Bill BogueGreat work, you guys, and great luck with the weather - chapeau! Kathy & I attempted this from Maulecene (sp.?) in 2004, also on an Erickson tandem tour, but had to abandon halfway up as Kathy was experiencing vertigo-like symptoms once we were getting above the trees. We think that those were after effects from a concussion from a tandem crash we had three months prior.

Chapeau again for your adventuresome spirits and desire to share with the rest of us! Safe and fun trip the rest of the way!
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2 years ago

rod dayStunning Pics. We went to the summit of Ventoux several years back (by car of course!) & saw a guy going up on a unicycle. Pity that you didnt see on as it would have made your 'collection of velos' complete!
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2 years ago