Mont Ventoux

Birth of the Renaissance

The Italian poet Petrarch scaled Mont Ventoux on 26 April 1336.

The Swiss historian Jakob Burckhardt, wrote that because Petrarch climbed Mont Ventoux for pleasure, he was “a truly modern man.” He dated the start of the Renaissance to 26 April 1336.

Be a Renaissance man or woman and climb Mont Ventoux with us.

A more modern historian wrote in 1963 that “Mont Ventoux is not a hard climb.” We’ll see.

For more info see: Ascent of Mont Ventoux

The Mountain

The Provence Countryside Bike Tour we’re doing doesn’t include the Mont Ventoux climb. We’ll have to figure it out ourselves.

Mont Ventoux, known as the "Giant of Provence," is one of the most iconic climbs in the Tour de France. In 2021, the Tour featured a double ascent of the mountain. It’s not for the faint-hearted, famous for its stark, windswept summit that resembles a moonscape. Strong winds can make the climb even more challenging, with an average grade of nearly 9 percent.

Since it’s a mountain climb, and October weather in the Alps can be unpredictable, we’ll need to check the conditions day by day. It’s also smart to dress in layers, as it can be cold at the summit. Don’t forget to bring snacks—you’ll burn plenty of calories on the way up!

Here are a few helpful links for more information on Mont Ventoux:

From Sault

Distance: 25.6 km; Elevation: 1,216 m; Gradient 4.5% avg, 12.9% max

From Bédoin

Distance: 21.4 km; Elevation: 1,600 m; Gradient 7.5% avg, 12.9% max

From Malaucene

Distance: 21.1 km; Elevation: 1,583 m; Gradient 7.5% avg, 12.9% max

Rouvy routes so you can try Mont Ventoux at home:

Rouvy now supports virtual shifting. See: https://support.rouvy.com/hc/en-us/articles/32452137189393-Virtual-Shifting.

Zwift

In Zwift try Ven-Top, https://zwiftinsider.com/route/ven-top/