A MAMIL's assault on the Giant of the Provence

I have been up Mont Ventoux before – in 2007 (pre cycling days,) we had a cottage in Villes sur Auzon, overlooked by the mountain. We drove up through the forest dodging hundreds of ascending and descending cyclists, cars and motorhomes, to find it packed on the summit. I assumed there was an event on, but when I asked a cyclist he replied it was like it every day through the summer! So when my wife thought it was about time we went back to the area, who was I to argue?

We travelled down by train, so I hired a nice Trek Madone 4.5 triple. I got my legs working on a couple of warm up rides up the Gorges du Nesque – stunning and beautifully quiet in the evenings, but no place for those with vertigo.

mv1mv2

Upper Gorges du Nesque                                                                                   Ventoux in the distance from the lower Gorges du Nesque

Looking at the weather forecast – it had to be the Wednesday, after a storm on the Monday night, there would be temperatures of 34 – 37 degrees for the rest of the week. Not confident of my ability to do the climb (I sense agreement), I decided to do Ventoux from the village of Sault, the easiest of the three routes up, and to get up early to avoid the worst heat and the battering Mistral wind that was getting up during the days.

8.30am saw me in a car park in Sault preparing for the ride. Ventoux’s reputation had me worried – could I trust the still, cloud free, crystal clear skies to last? Decision made –  I quickly removed arm and leg warmers, overshoes and waterproofs; the brolly was cable tied to the frame so that took a bit longer.

The first bit out of Sault is downhill, then through lavender fields to the forest. I was determined to take it steady but I soon passed a few people – an overweight Les Dawson lookalike and a middle aged couple on mountain bikes tacking across the road. My shoe didn’t feel quite right and as I paused I was overtaken by a guy pedalling quickly in a high gear – damn! Back to +2. From this point onward, the road had been resurfaced – a beautiful smooth tarmac replacing the rough potholed Mill Lane, Shinga-cum-Wendy type surface that I had read about previously.

Into the trees, and getting steeper, the fast pedalling guy in red shorts was always 40 – 80 metres ahead – I was sure he couldn’t keep it up forever. Checking the Garmin, I discovered the French work out their gradients differently to us – it was definitely 3 or 4% out. However, I was getting into a good rhythm - still on the middle ring, and burned past another older couple on hybrids and a bloke on a tourer, boom! +5. Then my first snot moment, a la Laurens Ten Dam – quickly sorted. A couple of minutes later, a huge butterfly hovered above my left glove for several metres before deciding that the sticky mess on it was not feeding material. My nemesis in red shorts was still ahead – I had planned to stop for lots of photos (rests), but thought no - he’s not going to get away.

mv3

Lovely surface on the road to Chalet Reynard

Chalet Reynard is where the route from Sault and the popular route from Bedoin merge. A brief stop for some cake and a nod to red shorts. He sets of first whilst I reported in via text to the wife. Strava told me when I got home, Sault to Chalet Reynard 11.3 miles, 2300ft, 8.4mph, 1hr 20.

Off I go – this is familiar now and surprisingly busy for the time. Up the first stretch and I pass several riders – but they probably came up the hard way so I feel a bit guilty. The scrubby trees gradually die out and again I am in a good rhythm so stopping for photos will have to wait for the descent. Again, all sorts of people on a range of bikes; the first time I’m passed it’s a child of about 12yrs – he leaves me standing… he’s singing. Another perfectly kitted out kid goes past me – a lady at the side of road is snapping away, shouting encouragement – mum I guess. I hope she can Photoshop me out.

mv11 

 

I am concentrating on regular breathing and a steady rhythm and I’m pleased with my progress – I am sure I’ll get up, perhaps without having to stop. But then I lift my head from the road and realise that I’m barely moving, and there’s only one gear left. Round another bend and the first of the photographers who make their living snapping the cyclists. I know I’m slow but to take a picture, print, mount and frame it by the time I reach him is taking the p***. Onto the last stretch now – up to 10% and the observatory is towering up ahead - I’m disappointed I haven’t seen my name painted on the road, and some people are SPRINTING! I get out of the saddle for the last bend and it’s done. I’m glad I’ve been here before; otherwise it might have been a bit of an anti-climax. A couple of hundred cyclists, a sweet stall and lots of cars. I stop right behind red shorts – he turns out to be a very pleasant 30+ Frenchman from Tours, but for some reason he doesn’t understand my fluent French. We have a bit of a chat, and he takes the traditional picture in front of the summit sign.

mv5

After a wander round and a few photos – it was time to descend. I wasn’t looking forward to this part because of the speed and the increasing amount of traffic, but got down safely albeit with sore hands because I had the brakes on all the way down (I didn’t have too much trouble with the brakes being the ‘wrong’ way round) The ride down to Sault from Chalet Reynard on the new surface was fantastic – though I felt for the dozens cycling up in the midday sun.

So only a 32 mile ride, but it was awesome to be there – up and down in about 2hrs 45. It was certainly the highlight of my cycling so far, though in hindsight I wish I had done the harder route from Bedoin, and / or made it into a circular route, and of course renewed respect for the pro’s who zoom up after  200km+ of racing.

Route on Strava   http://app.strava.com/activities/73795094

mv7mv8

         Towards the Alps                                                                                                             Looking back to the route up