Climb 18 of 22Vaucluse, France
Mont Ventoux
Known as the Giant of Provence, Mont Ventoux is a mountain in the south of France. Its top is bare limestone with no trees. From far away, it can look as if it is covered in snow.
- km long
- 21.8
- metres up
- 1,566
- steepest part
- 12%
- Flat
- Gentle
- Steady
- Hard
- Steep
How long does it take to ride up Mont Ventoux?
For a rider who weighs 75 kg, riding at a steady pace with no stops:
- New to exercise: about 4 hr 46 min
- I ride now and then: about 3 hr 36 min
- I ride most weeks: about 2 hr 38 min
Put in your own weight and fitness to see your time.
Ride Mont Ventoux at home
In Couch to Climb, the plan for Mont Ventoux is 14 weeks, with 3 rides a week on your smart trainer. It is climb 18 of 22. You start on Box Hill for free, then work up the climbs one at a time.
About the climb
This climb starts in Bédoin, on the south side, which is the hardest of the three roads up. The first few kilometres are gentle, then the road gets much steeper. From Chalet Reynard to the summit at 1,910 m, it crosses bare rock.
The Tour de France first climbed Ventoux in 1951. Eddy Merckx and Chris Froome both won stages on the summit. In 1967 the British rider Tom Simpson died near the top during the race. His memorial there is now a place where cycling fans stop to pay their respects.
Riding it for real
The mistral wind can be fierce, and the road is often closed when it blows hard. In winter, the road above Chalet Reynard is closed from about mid November until April. Bikes are not allowed past the barrier either.
Questions about riding Mont Ventoux
Known as the Giant of Provence, Mont Ventoux is a mountain in the south of France. Its top is bare limestone with no trees. From far away, it can look as if it is covered in snow.
Has the Tour de France been up Mont Ventoux?
Yes, many times. It first climbed the mountain in 1951, and riders such as Eddy Merckx and Chris Froome have won stages at the top.
Which side of Mont Ventoux is hardest?
The road from Bédoin, on the south side, is the hardest. The road from Malaucène is about as hard, and the road from Sault is the easiest.
Where is the Tom Simpson memorial?
It is near the summit, close to where he died during the 1967 Tour de France.
Updated . Written by Next Big Leap Ltd, who make the Couch to Climb app.
Ride up a famous climb on your indoor bike
Couch to Climb is a step by step plan for a smart trainer at home. It takes you from the sofa to the top of a real climb, with no stops. Your first climb, Box Hill, is free.
