Trek Travel’s #21 Greatest Ride In The World.
Ah, Mont Ventoux, the iconic, historic, world-famous, Tour de France featured ride that climbs miles and miles above the beautiful Provence region in France.
Discover this ride on our Provence trip.
Nicknamed “The Beast of Provence” and “The Giant of Provence” for good reason, this challenging climb takes you 1600 meters up the bald mountain at grueling gradients.
As you approach the summit, you can envision the many times this road was lined with adoring fans cheering on the suffering Tour de France riders as they pedal up this painful mountain stage. The reward from the top is an incredible, 360-degree view of the Provence wine country where you can spot the road you will be riding for the rest of the day.
“We knew the Provence bike trip would be nice but nothing could have prepared us for how incredibly wonderful, and over-the-top it actually was! Every detail and every meal, everything was more than we imagined it could have been and our only regret is that it’s already over.”
-Meghan, Trek Travel Guest
Three Things You Need to Know
RIDE DETAILS
The average grade on the climb is 7.5% but there are sections of sustained gradients much higher…think, 14-15%. After the challenging climb, enjoy a nice mellow, flat, pedal through the vineyards and beautiful old French villages. This ride should absolutely be on any cycling fans list, conquering Ventoux will not only give you bragging rights but also a taste of cycling’s rich history in the area.
WEATHER
“Ventoux” means “windy” in French, keep this in mind when packing your gear. It can be incredibly cold and windy up at the top.
FUEL
Roughly halfway up the climb, you can resupply water, snacks, have a coffee, and use the restroom at Chalet Reynard. After conquering Mont Ventoux, there are many spots to refuel before the rest of your ride. Bedoin, at kilometer 53 has many restaurants and cafes.
Local Resources
There is so much to do in this special region of France. Many amazing rides, famous wineries, open-air markets in Gordes and Menerbes, hiking in Gorges de La Nesque and so much more. Plan to spend several days here to experience it all.
You can ride up Ventoux on three different routes. This ride is the most popular but, stop by the Bedoin tourist office and get a ‘passport’ and collect your stamps after you conquer all three directions!
Discover this ride on our Provence trip.
