pennpaul

We just wrapped up vacation ending with several days in Provence. My wife booked a French Provencal cooking class for our family. As the hostess gave us a quick tour of her house, she pointed to her backyard with a mountain rising up in the distance. "Oh, that's Mont Ventoux. They race the Tour de France there and they rode past my driveway."

After lunch we drove to the summit guided by Google Maps. There are 3 routes up, but we didn't end up using the one the Tour uses. We did drive down it, though. Many cyclists were doing the ride. It's a long climb with some 10+% grades especially near the top. It looks to be a fun challenge.

Paul





The mountain is so named because of the windy conditions at the top, but today it was just a pleasant breeze.



If you zoom in, you can see 3 cyclists in a row on the horizontal road at center.





Cyclists of various physiques and bike types completed the climb.

bruce19

Was there in June. But, never got to go up the Mt. That entire area is amazing.

HTupolev

datlas 

Nice pics, but as a cyclist why did you visit there and NOT ride up it?!?

pennpaul

I was just happy the warden let me drive up it, but honestly I had no idea it was right there. On these family vacations, my wife plans everything and I'm there to carry bags, drive the car, take pictures, and pay the bills. Besides, we were in 4 different cities in 3 different countries so the logistics of bringing a bike or renting one let alone leaving my family to wait 3hrs while I did this ride just wouldn't be in the cards.

datlas 

Understood. When we do "family" vacations, I typically try to find some cycling to do, ideally first thing in the morning while the rest of the family sleeps.

Maybe next time you visit you can ride up Ventoux. I have never done it, but hope to some day!

indyfabz

Thank you so much! I was trying to remember his name. At one point he had nearly a 20 min. lead in that stage. Much of it had disappeared by the time to reached the summit. I remember him struggling trying to get to the top. I didn't think he was going to make it. (At 6' 4", he was not the best climber.) But he still had enough of a margin that no one could catch him on the descent. I can still see him near the finish looking back and then tearing up when it was clear he was going to win. Prior to the stage he told a reporter that he was going to have such a big lead that he would have enough time to find a pretty girl, stop for lunch and still win.

GuitarBob

Poli recounting that day -- a good read.

https://www.velonews.com/2016/07/new...victory_414652