Mont Ventoux, FRA

Mont Ventoux. The Giant of Provence. 1,909 metres above the lavender fields, the final third completely barren — white limestone, blazing sun, zero shade. Few climbs command this much respect.

Three roads lead to the summit. The classic from Bédoin (21.5 km, 7.5% average), the tough one from Malaucène (21.2 km, 7.2%), and the “easy” one from Sault (26 km, 4.4%). Easy is relative. All three end at the same barren peak, the same observatory, the same view stretching to the Mediterranean.

The Bédoin side is the most famous. The first kilometres through town are deceptive. Flat, almost pleasant. Then the road turns into the forest and the gradient changes instantly. Between kilometre 6 and 15 you’ll find the most brutal section: 9 kilometres at a relentless 9–10%, through dense forest, no views, no distractions. Just you, the road, and the question of why you’re doing this.

At Chalet Reynard, kilometre 15, the treeline ends. Everything changes. The forest disappears, the moonscape begins. White limestone, wind from every direction, the final 6 kilometres completely exposed. When the Mistral blows, it’s a survival exercise. In calm conditions, it’s meditation. The view opens up across all of Provence — on clear days, you can see the Alps and the Pyrenees.

The Ventoux and the Tour de France are inseparable. It’s been in the race since 1951. This is where Tom Simpson collapsed and died in 1967, just a few hundred metres below the summit. His memorial still stands at the roadside, kilometre 19.5. This is where Pantani launched his legendary solo attack in 2000. Where Froome decided the 2013 Tour.

Tips for cyclists

If you want to truly know the Ventoux, ride all three sides on different days. Bédoin is the classic, Malaucène the most technical (more gradient changes), Sault the longest but most consistent. Locals ride up Bédoin and descend Sault as a loop.

Best time to go: May to June or September. Mid-summer is unbearably hot (40°C+ on the exposed section), and the road is clogged with tourist traffic. The summit is usually closed from November to April due to snow.

Pro tip: start early. Leaving Bédoin at 6:30 means you’ll summit before the heat and the cars arrive. Bring enough water — between Bédoin and the top, Chalet Reynard is your only chance to refill bottles.