Mont Ventoux

Mountain in the Vaucluse, climbed by cyclists from Bédoin and Malaucène, among other sides. See Provence.

At a glance

Source	Author	Role	In one line
Ventoux, Malaucene	Mostly Bikes x Me	subject	A two-line verdict on the Bédoin and Malaucène climbs.
It’s All About the Bike	Robert Penn	backdrop	Where Tom Simpson died near the summit in the 1967 Tour de France.
Ventoux Three Ways	Mostly Bikes x Me	subject	The climb from Sault, harder than ever, lightened by a 2CV rally.
Bédoin, Ventoux, sides of dirt	Mostly Bikes x Me	subject	A quick spin up with dirt detours.
Gorges de la Nesque to Sault & Ventoux	Mostly Bikes x Me	journey waypoint	An unplanned summit on the way home, quiet in summer as in winter.
Ventoux via Maulucene	Mostly Bikes x Me	subject	The day before a Tour de France stage finish on the summit, the author rides up the Malaucène side while traffic is restricted.
Mont Ventoux au Gravel.	Mostly Bikes x Me	subject	A rider climbs Mont Ventoux from Bedoin on a gravel route in July 2025: about 20 km of limestone chunks and sandy grooves, rejoining the paved road from Malaucene for the last 5 km.

Ventoux, Malaucene — Mostly Bikes x Me (2026)

Source: Readwise highlight

Bedoin is the classic climb, and if you want to gawk at l’émetteur, then definitely, Bedoin. Malaucene is more scenic though.

• Role: subject
• In the article: A photo post with a short caption. The author compares the two sides of the climb: Bédoin is the classic and passes the transmitter mast (l’émetteur), Malaucène is more scenic. He rode down the Bédoin side because he needed coffee beans.
• Why it matters: The mountain is the entire post, though the text says little more than this comparison.
• Real vs. fictional: The post says only “Ventoux”; the mountain, its Provence setting and the summit pin come from the place names and Wikipedia.

It’s All About the Bike — Robert Penn (2010)

Source: It’s All About the Bike · Readwise highlight

they really did find his body in the road, with amphetamines and cognac in his blood, 1 mile from the top of the infamous Mont Ventoux.

• Role: backdrop
• In the book: In the early chapters Penn recalls Tom Simpson collapsing and dying a mile from the summit during the 1967 Tour de France.
• Why it matters: A brief illustration of cycling’s bond with suffering; the mountain’s reputation does the work.

Ventoux Three Ways — Mostly Bikes x Me (2025)

Source: Original · Readwise highlight

The climb from Sault has never been so grueling.

• Role: subject
• In the article: A photo post on riding Ventoux by three routes. The one line of text says the climb from Sault was the hardest yet, made lighter by a 2CV rally on the road.
• Why it matters: The mountain is the whole post; the text gives only this verdict.

Bédoin, Ventoux, sides of dirt — Mostly Bikes x Me (2025)

Source: Original · Readwise highlight

Quick spin up Ventoux with some dirt rambles thrown in for extra fun time.

• Role: subject
• In the article: A photo post: a quick ride up the mountain with gravel side trips. Bédoin appears only in the title.
• Why it matters: One more ride on the writer’s home mountain that season; the text is a single line.

Gorges de la Nesque to Sault & Ventoux — Mostly Bikes x Me (2025)

Source: Original · Readwise highlight

The summit in summer is a reminder of how special and quiet it is in winter.

• Role: journey waypoint
• In the article: The riders had not planned to come home over Ventoux, but the weather was mild and the mistral had moved on. At the summit the author reflects on how quiet it is in winter and wants a photo of barnyard animals on a famous mountain. The Gorges de la Nesque and Sault appear only in the title.
• Why it matters: The ride’s high point, briefly told.

Ventoux via Maulucene — Mostly Bikes x Me (2025)

Source: Original · Readwise highlight

With a Tour de France stage finishing at the top of Mont Ventoux tomorrow, today was the perfect day to ride up one of the paved ascents as traffic is restricted to cyclists, services and residents most of the way.

• Role: subject
• In the article: The day before a Tour de France stage finish on the summit, the author rides up the Malaucène side while traffic is restricted. He turns back from the Bédoin side and descends via Malaucène.
• Why it matters: The mountain is the post’s subject and destination.

Mont Ventoux au Gravel. — Mostly Bikes x Me (2025)

Source: Original · Readwise highlight

The summit was a madhouse, not surprising as the road closes to motorists tomorrow, and the Tour de France will finish here on Tuesday.

• Role: subject
• In the article: A rider climbs Mont Ventoux from Bedoin on a gravel route in July 2025: about 20 km of limestone chunks and sandy grooves, rejoining the paved road from Malaucene for the last 5 km. The summit is crowded because the road is about to close to motorists ahead of the Tour de France finish. They descend via Malaucene.
• Why it matters: The whole post is a gravel ride up Ventoux, with its lunar landscape near the top and the Tour stage finish imminent.