Lourmarin - Mont Ventoux - Gorges de la Nesque

The ride begins in Lourmarin, a beautiful village in Provence, known for its vineyards and charming atmosphere. Lourmarin sits at the foot of the Luberon and serves as the perfect starting point for a challenging and varied cycling route.

We start with a leisurely ride through the Combe de Lourmarin, a narrow, winding passage that leads you through the hills of the Luberon. It's a calm warm-up with stunning views of the surrounding nature.

After the Combe, the first serious climb of the day begins: the Col de Cèdres. This pass is surrounded by impressive cedar forests, providing a pleasant shaded climb and beautiful views of Provence.

After the climb, you descend to Bonnieux, a picturesque village perched on a hill. It's an ideal place for a short stop, perhaps at the church of Bonnieux, which towers high above the village. After Bonnieux, you continue cycling towards the Pont Julien, a Roman bridge that is part of the Via Domitia, an ancient Roman trade route.

After the Pont Julien, you encounter the Côte de Roussillon, a climb to the famous village of Roussillon, known for its ochre quarries. The climb is challenging, but the view of Roussillon's ochre-colored houses and rocks makes it worthwhile. You cycle through a landscape that seems almost surreal, with brightly colored soil and green forests.

After Roussillon, the road continues to Lioux, where the impressive rock wall of Lioux is a remarkable natural phenomenon. The route remains rolling, with quiet roads and little traffic. You pass the Chapelle de Sainte Foy, a small historic chapel that emanates tranquility.

The route continues towards Saint Lambert and Méthamis, where the roads begin to get steeper as you approach the major climb of the day: Mont Ventoux. From Villes-sur-Auzon, you cycle on to Flassan, a charming village located on the slopes of the Ventoux.

Now begins the legendary climb to the summit of Mont Ventoux via Bédoin. This ascent is famous for its intensity, with steep sections and long, challenging stretches. After a tough climb through the forests, you arrive at Chalet Reynard, a popular stop for cyclists. Here, the landscape becomes barren and desolate, with the famous moon-like setting of Mont Ventoux in view.

The final stretch of the climb to the summit of Mont Ventoux is intense. The barren rocky environment, strong winds, and steep slopes make this an unforgettable challenge. Once at the top, you are rewarded with breathtaking views over Provence and the Alps in the distance. Conquering this mythical mountain is a highlight for any cyclist.

After descending from Ventoux to Chalet Reynard, you continue down to the charming village of Sault, known for its lavender fields. This is a much quieter side of the Ventoux, and the descent is long and technically challenging, but a relief after the tough climb.

After Sault, you cycle on to Monieux, a small village at the beginning of the Gorges de la Nesque.

The route through the Gorges de la Nesque is breathtakingly beautiful. This gorge, with its winding roads along steep cliff walls and deep ravines, provides a spectacular conclusion to the day. The road follows the river Nesque, and you enjoy stunning views of the rock formations and the Provençal landscape.

After the Gorges, you descend further to Villes-sur-Auzon, where you end the day on the terrace of Café du Soleil. Here you can enjoy a well-deserved Chimay Blue and a delicious tapas platter while reflecting on the impressive ride.

 

Distance and Difficulty:

Total distance: Approximately 151 km - +3700 Hm

Difficulty: Very hard, with two major climbs: Mont Ventoux and Gorges de la Nesque.

 

Conclusion:

This road cycling route through Provence is one of the most challenging and impressive routes in the region. The mix of historic villages, beautiful landscapes, and legendary climbs such as Mont Ventoux and the Gorges de la Nesque makes this a ride for the books. Your muscles will be tested, but the views and the satisfaction at the end of the day make it more than worth it.

 

 

* Côte de Roussillon: The Côte de Roussillon is a climb in the Provence & Côte d'Azur region. It is 4.72 km long, covering 146 meters of elevation gain, and has its highest point at 316m, resulting in an average gradient of 3.1%.

* Lavanda - Lioux - Saint Lambert: Lavanda - Lioux - Saint Lambert is located in the Provence & Côte d'Azur region and is 18.12 km long, covering 552 meters of elevation gain. The average gradient of this climb is 3.0%.

* Col de Mont Ventoux: Col de Mont Ventoux from Bédoin is located in the Provence & Côte d'Azur region and is 21.24 km long, covering 1566 meters of elevation gain. The average gradient of the climb is therefore 7.4%.

 

The Mont Ventoux on a racing bike

The Mont Ventoux is perhaps the most famous cycling mountain in Europe, along with L’Alpe d’Huez. This makes sense, as the climb is long and steep but especially full of history. Let's be honest, that's what makes a climb legendary. It's not just the steepness that makes the climb so challenging; it's often the wind that adds to the difficulty. But even without wind, the cold or the sweltering heat can create tough conditions. In short, this 'bald mountain' is rarely a gift. The ascent of Ventoux is a challenge that many aspire to conquer someday.

Gradient and wind make Mont Ventoux very tough

Ventoux lives up to its name. The word ‘vent’ means wind in French. The road on this mountain is often closed due to high winds. Wind speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour (!) have been recorded. If the wind were the only factor making the climb tough, then “it wouldn’t be too bad.” But Mont Ventoux has a significant gradient, and that for 20 kilometers—perhaps not continuously steep but certainly enough to make it quite hard for any cyclist. And just when you think it’s manageable, that wind is bound to pick up again!

Mont Ventoux is the 'giant of Provence'

Mont Ventoux is the highest peak in the wide surroundings. Its nickname, the 'giant of Provence,' is therefore entirely logical. The fact that this mountain stands so high above its surroundings also creates a meteorologically unique climate. Of course, there’s that wind—always that wind. But it also rains a lot on Ventoux, often heavily and frequently. Expect around 90 rainy days a year, with an average rainfall of as much as 1220 mm per year. Cloudbursts with 100 mm of precipitation an hour occur every year. Most of the rain falls on the eastern side of the mountain, while the western side has a more Mediterranean climate.

Multiple routes lead to Ventoux

Ventoux can be climbed in various ways. The climb from Bédoin is the most famous Ventoux climb, over 21 kilometers. When it's windy, this is the toughest ascent because you spend the most time climbing in the 'moon landscape.' Furthermore, depending on what type of climber you are, you might prefer the ascent from Malaucène or Bédoin.

Gradient of Mont Ventoux from Bédoin

The first few kilometers from Bédoin start gently. Once in the forest, the trouble begins. Here, the 10% gradient hits hard. You might expect shade in this forest, but rather, expect oppressive heat. To make matters worse, you are accompanied by thousands of flies that make it a sport to fly alongside cyclists. If, despite all this misfortune, you have an eye for the surroundings, you will see a fantastic road winding upwards (which is also lovely and quite straightforward to descend, by the way). Along this road, you will see a beautiful forest with unique vegetation. Quite a few shrubs and trees that grow on Ventoux are notably unique. Just like this road—no traditional hairpin bends here; the road appears to meander like a river.

Once above the forest, the surroundings quickly change into a moonscape. No tree to shield you from the wind. Depending on that wind, the climb can be comfortably manageable or a true hell. If you succeed in reaching the top with a decent 'Ventoux breeze,' you will earn your wings as a cyclist.

Beware of the last kilometer of Mont Ventoux

The last kilometer actually holds a surprise. This final kilometer is quite steep, especially the last little bit to the top itself, where tourists and day-trippers do not make it easier for struggling cyclists.

Often cold at the top of the bald mountain

While it's often annoyingly warm in the forest, it is often icy cold at the top of Ventoux, even in summer. Keep this in mind when packing clothing. From the top, it's a delight to enjoy the view. After the climb, of course, comes the descent, which is very pleasant: not too difficult and well manageable. Many a cyclist has broken their absolute speed record here.

Street names: Route du Mont Ventoux & D974