Mont Ventoux (Malaucène) Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

32.8
PDI
13.2 mi
DISTANCE
4,997 ft
GAINED
7.2 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

Up Mont Ventoux from the backside - nearly as difficult a bike climb as from the classic (Mont Ventoux - Bedoin) side.

Mont Ventoux makes its 17th appearance in the Tour de France when it is featured twice (from Sault and Bedoin) on July 7 stage 11.
See our 2021 Tour de France page for the most unique presentation of TdF climbs you have ever seen - Guaranteed!
Average grade is 7.2%.  61% of the climb is at 5-10% and 15% is at 10-15% grade.  The steepest 500 meters is 11% and steepest kilometer 10.6%. 

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the “Profile Tool” button above.
Roadway:  2 lane roadway in excellent condition and a center striped white line until kilometer 15 when the roadway narrows slightly and has no center stripe.  There is no shoulder on this roadway.

Traffic:  Mild.  

Parking:  On the right on D974 at the start of the climb - but get there early - Map; Street View
Provisions:  Chalet Liotard at kilometer 15 - Google Map + Reviews or at the top - Vendran Restaurant (Map + Reviews) or the food cart at the very top. 
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Consider also doing the famous Mont Ventoux - Bedoin and/or ride up to Mont Ventoux through fields of lavender from Mont Ventoux - Sault or do all three at one time - Club Des Cinglés Du Mont-ventoux offers a very cool badge and certificate for climbing the 3 paved ascents of Mont Ventoux (137 kilometers, 4,440 meters), or 3 paved + 1 mountain bike (183 kilometers at 6,020 meters climbed), or, well hell, Everest the damn thing . . . (3 paved ascents twice = 274 kilometers at 8,800 meters).

MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Challenging
5
Road
3
Traffic
4
Scenery

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Nov 26, 2023
difficulty: Challenging
scenery: 4
traffic: 3
road: 5
Nov 26, 2023
scenery: 4
traffic: 3
road: 5
I drove up there on a hot summer day with temperatures above 37 degree celsius and no shade at all… I used my every day bike, since the tarmac is perfect every bike will be fine. The first opportunity to refill water was after ⅔ of the climb, on the summit there's a restaurant as well. The view is terrific
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CLIMB SUMMARY

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.  

  • Fom Bédoin (#3 France):  Ride 21.5 kilometers gaining 1613 meters at 7.75% average grade.
  • From Malaucene (#8 France):  21.2 kilometers gaining 1522 meters at 7.2%,
  • From Sault:  24.2 kilometers, 1285 meters at 4.9%.

 

“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.

File:F5 tornado Elie Manitoba 2007.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

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

Bike Climb Mont Ventoux - John Johnson PJAMM Cycling with bike at summit sign

  Climbing Mont Ventoux with bicycle - food cart at 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%)

Cycling Mont Ventoux from Bedoin - road and km marker

From Bédoin.

Gradients from Malaucene

 

Steepest kilometer starts at km 11.9 (10.6%)

Cycling Mont Ventoux from Malaucene - road and km marker 

From Malaucene.

Gradients from Sault

Steepest kilometer is km 22.8 (11.1%)

Cycling Mont Ventoux from Sault - road and roadway marker

Roadway markers coming from Sault.