Cycling the mighty Bald Mountain from Malaucène.
Ride 21 kilometers (13.2 miles) gaining 1,522 meters (4,995’) at 7.2%.
There are three routes to the top of this mighty mountain (Map), although the route from Bédoin is by far the most popular and well known. There are three paved routes (a 4th by mountain bike) to the top of this mighty mountain (Map), although the route from Bédoin is by far the most popular and well known.
“Venteux” means windy in French, and this mountain climb certainly lives up to its moniker. Particularly at the summit, wind speeds as high as 200 mph (320 km/h) have been noted, and “the wind blows at 90+ km/h (56+ mph) 240 days a year” (Mont Ventoux - Wikipedia). Because of high winds, the road over the mountain is often closed, especially the "col des tempêtes" ("storm pass") just before the summit. The true origins of this mountain’s name “are thought to trace back to the 1st or 2nd century AD, when it was named 'Vintur' after a Gaulish god of the summits, or 'Ven-Top', meaning "snowy peak" in the ancient Gallic language. In the 10th century, the names Mons Ventosus and Mons Ventorius appear” Mont Ventoux - Wikipedia.
It can be a bit breezy at the top.
BALD Mountain . . .
Mont Ventoux is in the Savoy Alps region of the French Alps and is variously referred to as “The Bald Mountain” or “Giant of Provence” (as Ventoux is in the Provence-Alpes-Cóte d’Azur Region of France).
THE SUMMIT
Many cyclists congregate at the top of the climb where there is plenty of great food to choose from.
Gradients from Bédoin
Steepest kilometer starts at 7.8 (11.1%)
From Bédoin.
Gradients from Malaucene
Steepest kilometer starts at km 11.9 (10.6%)
From Malaucene.
Gradients from Sault
Steepest kilometer is km 22.8 (11.1%)
Roadway markers coming from Sault.