Climbing Mont-Ventoux

Climbing Mont-Ventoux

From Fontaine-de-Vaucluse on April 17, 2009.

It's always an adventure to climb Mont-Ventoux, whether it's on a human level or on a physical level, as the challenge is always present.

After the Easter weekend and the climb of Sainte Baume on 110 km, it was Mont Ventoux's turn. While the warmth of Marseille allows for cycling in April in shorts and long sleeves, for the Giant of Provence in early spring, it is advisable to dress more warmly.
So it was in the same outfit as the Easter weekend in Marseille that I seriously questioned how to dress. As for gloves, overshoes, and long tights, I am not equipped during this vacation period, only an additional technical t-shirt will allow me to try my luck. The night before this outing, I was haunted by the cold, the end of the climb in adversity and icy cold, the descent by braking with my feet, for lack of hands in good enough condition to brake normally.

The only authorized ascent is from Chalet Reynard, as snow is still present via Malaucène.

The departure for this ride starts from Fontaine de Vaucluse, the holiday spot of the moment. Bédoin is only 30 km away and allows for a good warm-up, especially with the climb towards Saumane and its castle. From there, the snow-covered Ventoux is visible, it is even covered in clouds, heralding a climb in the fog and a cold descent. Anyway, we'll see, for now, despite the big blue sky, the morning is chilly.

Before arriving in Bédoin, there are a few villages to cross via quiet roads: Roques s/ Pernes, Saint Didier, Mazan, and the first sign indicating Bédoin appears, later the signs will indicate Mont-Ventoux. The tribute stele to René Viéto is soon passed, and the serious things begin, a last turn to the right and we are on the road to the Giant of Provence: departmental road D974. Two last small towns are crossed before tackling the steep road, the one that makes the speed drop from 20 to 12 km/h. From the first hectometers, a sign announces that the pass is closed and that the road is open up to the summit. Conclusion: I will descend via Malaucène another time.

The first kilometers are quite difficult with a percentage around 10%. There are no hairpin turns, but long straight lines, the gear of the moment: 32 x 21. After the passage at 10%, the 32 x 20 passes with a pedaling in round. Hey, a snowplow descends from the summit, she certainly didn't climb for nothing. Some turns, and the Chalet Reynard is coming, on the right, the road from Sault joins us. The summit is now 6 km away, but the easiest is not behind us. The sun only shines intermittently in the clouds, and I wait for the first turn to feel the presence of the wind. I catch up with two mountain bikers from Le Mans who are climbing the Giant by the road. The ascent will thus go faster by exchanging some friendly words in front of the beauty of the effort present. It's their first climb, and they're taking it all in in this snowy Moon landscape. The hairpin turns are long at the end of the pass, and the higher we climb, the steeper the slope seems. In the last hairpin turn, for a few minutes, we are in the clouds.

The summit is there after a last effort. Without the clouds, we could see the Mediterranean, Marseille ... There is no wind, which allows for chatting with cyclists and walkers of the moment. The Ventoux has something magical, because without the effort necessary at this moment, we would hardly have said hello to each other.

Since the descent via Malaucène is closed, I turn my steed around, slide a few sheets of newspaper under my jersey, button up my jersey to the top, and off I go! 50 km/h, 60 km/h, yes, but what cold, my fingers are reddened, but still braking without a problem. Past the Chalet Reynard, the atmosphere warms up, and the thrilling descent mobilizes all the muscles in the body. Arriving in Bédoin, I decide to continue towards my starting point, but with an additional difficulty. It will be Vénasque, the Col de Murs at 620 meters, then Gordes.