Mont Ventoux from Malaucène
Mont Ventoux has become legendary as the scene of one of the most grueling climbs in the Tour de France bicycle race, which has ascended the mountain fifteen times since 1951. Its fame as a scene of great Tour dramas has made it a magnet for cyclists around the world.The mountain achieved worldwide notoriety when it claimed the life of British cyclist Tom Simpson, who died here on 13 July 1967 from heat exhaustion caused by a combination of factors, including dehydration, amphetamines, and alcohol. He began to wildly weave across the road before he fell down. He was delirious and asked spectators to put him back on the bike, which he rode to within a half mile of the summit before collapsing dead, still clipped into his pedals. There is a memorial to Simpson near the summit, which has become a shrine to fans of cycling, who often leave small tokens of remembrance there. In 1970, Eddy Merckx rode himself to the brink of collapse while winning the stage. He received oxygen, recovered, and won the Tour.
Region: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
City: Malaucène
Distance: 21.06 km
Elevation Gain: 1563 m
Elevation Loss: 2 m
Difficulty: 1378 (Very Hard)
FIETS Index: 12.66 FIETS
Avg Grade: 7.45 %
Max cat climb: HC
Min elevation: 332 m
Max elevation: 1895 m
Ride Category: Epic Climb