Mont Ventoux (Tour de France)
Mont Ventoux (Tour de France)
Another Tour de France icon, Mont Ventoux will be forever cemented into pro cycling history after Tom Simpson’s death on the climb in 1967, and the Brit is remembered by a memorial near the summit.
That was one of 15 Tour de France appearances to date for the ‘Giant of Provence’ – a climb 21.4km, which has served as a summit finish on nine of those occasions. Chris Froome’s win on the climb was one of the most memorable stages of his 2013 Tour de France triumph.
Its gentle opening lulls riders into a false sense of security, but the roads ramp up fiercely and painfully – climbing up the barren, rugged landscape and the observatory at the top, which has become such an iconic sight on television screens around the world.
The average gradient is 7.6 per cent, with a maximum of 12 per cent, and the giant climb is fully deserving of its giant reputation.
Key facts
Length: 21.4km
Average gradient: 7.6%
Maximum gradient: 12%