WHAT WE CRAZIES ARE DOING

Some say Mont Ventoux is the hardest of all the mythical Tour de France climbs and rightly so

Elevation: 1,912 m (6,273 ft)

 

What's involved?

Climb the mountain by the 3 traditional ways from Bedoin, Malaucene and Sault all in one day!

1. 

The Bedoin Route 

The ascent from Bedoin is the classic way up the mountain. The length of the climb from Bedoin at 300m asl to the summit at 1912m is 21.5km . This gives an elevation of 1612m and an average gradient of 7.5%. This doesn't sound too bad but when you break the climb down into its 3 obvious sections it paints a different picture. 

 

From Bedoin at 300m it is 5.5km to St. Esteve at 541m. This gives an elevation of 241m and an average gradient of just 4.4%. 

 

The Malaucene Route

Starting in Malaucene at 360m you have approximately 1km then as you pass the cafe on the right the road steepens to over 9% for 2km to 500m. Here you get some respite with a nice section of 4, 5 and 6% which is the story until the 9km mark.

 

Here it kicks and the gradient once again goes over 10% (with some 12%).
This is a very hard section, as you pass the water tank and the concrete shed the road swings right then left then you can see straight ahead for a kilometre at well over 10%. The road then twists slightly at a layby then a welcome rest section as you pass the mini roundabout and the cafe at Chalet Liotard.0.75km of steep climbing then a sharp hairpin left leads to a nice long 6 and 7% section with the steep ski pistes dropping down to your left.

 

As you leave the trees you are greeted with a fantastic view of the tower still 250m above your head. The last two hairpins steepen again with magnificent views to the North where on a clear day the Alps form a fantastic backdrop. 

 

The Sault Route

The ascent from Sault is the easiest of the 3 popular ascents. There are two reasons for this.First the elevation is much less because the start of the ascent from Sault is at a height of 694m. Secondly, the overall distance is longer than the other two at 26km. This means that the first 20km of the climb from Sault at 694m to Chalet Reynard at 1417m with a total elevation of 723m, has an average gradient of just 3.6%. You still need to climb the last 6km from Chalet Reynard to the summit but you arrive at Chalet Reynard in much better condition than if you have just slogged up through the forest from Bedoin. 

After a short descent out of Sault you start the climb up through the lavender fields then a few short sharp sections lead up into the forest from where it becomes a bit of a boring haul. The road then sweeps left at 1263m where a gentle section trends south to the viewpoint and belvedere at 1327m. From here to Chalet Reynard the gradient is very gentle and the last 2km are almost flat.

The last 6km from Chalet Reynard are exactly the same astheBedoin route. It is a section that is very exposed and weather dependent and has the reputation of being very windy. On leaving Chalet Reynard there is a short steep section but rounding the first bend you notice a significant drop in gradient with an average of approximately 7% for the next 4.5km. The last part from the Simpson Memorial rears up again and the last 1500metres are at an average of 10% gradient.