Le Mont Ventoux

Mont Ventoux is a mountain of Vaucluse in the Vaucluse department in southern France, located about 20 km north-east of Carpentras. It is the only mountain in the Provence region and is therefore also called the Giant of Provence. The name of the mountain is derived from the Occitan word ven meaning mountain. Because it blows a lot and hard at the top of the mountain through the mistral, the name is often misinterpreted as wind mountain. Wind speeds of up to 300 km/h have been recorded. Another explanation of the name dates back to the 1st or 2nd century AD. The Gallic name can be reconstructed as 'Ven-top(s)', which means 'snow-top'. In the 10th century the names Mons Ventosus and Mons Ventorius appear.

The Côtes du Ventoux wine is made in the region.

The summit is located at an altitude of 1912 meters. The height difference with the foot of the mountain is 1614 m.

The mountain is best known for cycling stages in, among others, the Tour de France. The climb from Bédoin is very difficult due to the length of the climb (21 km), the average gradient (7.6 %) and the summer temperatures in the South of France. In total, three climbs with a road bike are possible. The climb was fatal to cyclist Tom Simpson in 1967 due to a combination of doping, alcohol and the heat.

Also in the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré the Mont Ventoux is a climb that returns annually.

The Mont Ventoux is mainly visited in the summer by tourists who climb the mountain, mainly by bike. The Dutch poet Jan Kal dedicated one of his most famous sonnets to Mont Ventoux and Tom Simpson.

The record time for the climb is in the name of the Spaniard Iban Mayo. In the year 2004 he achieved a climb in 55 minutes and 51 seconds during the Dauphiné Libéré.

tommislaw