Mont Ventoux
Bédoin, France
The Mont Ventoux is a climb with a length of 21.2 kilometer. This is a highest category (HC) climb. It is located in Bédoin, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. The average grade of this climb is 7.5% with a maximum of 10.7%. The Mont Ventoux ascents from 335 meter at the start, to 1.912 meter at the top, with a total of 1.577 ascending meters.
Profile
Facts
| Distance | 21.2 km |
| Elevation gain | 1577 m |
| Average grade | 7.5 % |
| Maximum grade | 10.7 % |
| Climb category | HC |
| Minimum elevation | 335 m |
| Maximum elevation | 1912 m |
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Description
This brutal ascent is one of the most iconic landmarks in the Tour de France and has featured prominently in numerous professional races. Reaching the summit is especially grueling due to the complete exposure near the top, where riders are left defenseless against fierce winds and the scorching sun.
Mont Ventoux has earned legendary status as the site of some of the most punishing climbs in Tour history. Since its first appearance in 1951, the mountain has been climbed fifteen times in the race.
Perhaps the most unforgettable story tied to Mont Ventoux is that of British cyclist Tom Simpson. On July 13, 1967, during the Tour’s thirteenth stage, temperatures soared above 40°C. Fatigued and suffering from a combination of heat, alcohol, and amphetamines, Simpson collapsed 1.4 kilometers from the summit. Though his team manager attempted to help him back on the bike, the 29-year-old collapsed again and later died en route to the hospital in Avignon. A memorial near the summit now stands in his honor, and many cycling fans still leave tokens of remembrance there.
Just three years later, another dramatic moment unfolded. Eddy Merckx, aiming to pay tribute to Simpson atop this mythical climb, launched an early solo attack. With a commanding lead by the time he passed the memorial, he even removed his cap in a gesture of respect. But in the final kilometer, Merckx began to suffer severely. Though he managed to win the stage, he collapsed after the finish and had to be revived with oxygen.
In more recent years, Mont Ventoux has continued to deliver drama in La Grande Boucle. In 2000, it was the scene of an unforgettable duel between Marco Pantani and Lance Armstrong, with Armstrong claiming he gifted the stage to Il Pirata. In 2016, fans witnessed yet another extraordinary moment when Chris Froome, after a crash involving Richie Porte, Bauke Mollema, and a race motorbike, famously continued on foot up the mountain until a replacement bike arrived.
The climb from Bédoin is the most well-known and challenging route. The 21-kilometer ascent averages a 7.7% gradient, with the most punishing section—16 kilometers from Saint-Estève—averaging 8.9%. The final kilometers are notorious for violent winds. For trained amateur riders, the climb typically takes between 1.5 and 2.5 hours. Professional cyclists complete it in about 1 to 1 hour 15 minutes. The fastest time recorded is 55 minutes and 51 seconds, set by Iban Mayo during the 2004 Dauphiné Libéré time trial. The first timed ascent from Bédoin was in the 1958 Tour, when Charly Gaul clocked in at 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 9 seconds.