This bald giant always pulled my attention during the grand battles of the Tour de France. Legendary are the stories of the heroic climbs, even the greatest cyclist had a very though job in struggling up the mountain, sometimes with fatal endings. Like with the British champion Tom Simpson on 13 juli 1967.

I was a little disappointed when I saw it ‘live’ for the first time. It seemed more like a hill than a mountain. I had already concurred the Alpe d’Huez, de Stelvio and the Galibier. On a hot day in June I enthusiastically started my ride from Bedoin, maybe a little too confident. The heat in the oakforest and the impossibility of recovering put my confidence into perspective. Finally past the forest it was possible to focus at the typical weather station of the mountain. Tired but satisfied I enjoyed the unexpected beauty of the view from the top.
I fell in love…

I slept near the top in my campervan to be able to witness how it only took Iban Mayo in the Dauphine Liberée 55.51 minutes to get there… Nearly double the speed of my attempt.

• Grange Ventoux is ideally located for both starting and more advanced cyclist attempting the Cingles.
• The ‘Sault’-side is the easiest climb, and the safest downhill after an exhausting climb up.
• The descent of the Gorges de La Nesque is near our house.
• A Ventoux tour is ideal introduction to get to know the area.
• The are plenty of other lesser known cols around the Sault plateau that provide beautiful training ground.
• Homme Mort, Le giviére, Murs, Saint-Jean are some of the names of the 24 cols surrounding us.