Mont Ventoux what else?

going down for the mont ventoux stage of this years TDF,
going down a couple of days before hand.

Intend to attempt the actual tour route up the giant and maybe in reverse as well.

Whats the deal with road closures during the tour, how long can you cycle on it before and after??

and what other good climbs/rides are there in the area I should try? ive got a few days.

ride through Gorge du Verdon, after Ventoux..

Who has ridden Ventoux, and when? I was planning to ride it on my birthday - 29th November. Will it be covered in snow? And will I still be able to get up?

ventoux weather - Google Search

Earlier this month - twice. Nov 29th seems awfully late in the year, may well be closed due to winds/snow.

As Ronnie says, nore likely to be closed due to winds than snow.

I did it in july. It's fanastic. I'm not sure what it'll be like in November. The Mistral causes it to be closed often in the winter.

Bugger. Thought that might be the case. Not looking good for a birthday ride, then...

how do they close a whole mountain?

if you wanted it im sure you could still ride it.

how do they close a whole mountain?

if you wanted it im sure you could still ride it.

lolz

I think the problem is that if it's closed it's because there are 60mph winds at the peak. Even if you could battle through that, when you got to the summit you'd be blown straight off.

just stay in reading Petrarch, he knew all about it. save riding for summer.

i rode up it at the end of july. it was pretty scary riding back down then, let alone in winter with 60mph winds and icy roads.

awesome ride though!

it is beautiful..

Craig @ Veloventoux said it's not so much the getting up there, its the descent on icy roads and in high winds that's killer.

I'm thinking Spain, lots of nice mountains in Andalusia, much warmer and less snow.

All,

I am considering a trip to Mont Ventoux. Could you advise if it is better to stay in Bedoin or Carpentras as I'm not sure which is closest.

Thanks.

Bédoin is closer but is pretty small. Carpentras seems much bigger. When I went, we stayed in Avignon. It gave us a good ride out before the climb. You'll have a great time. Definitely drop in to Chalet Reynard on the way down, or up.

https://www.lfgss.com/thread17806.html

https://www.lfgss.com/thread29780.html

Plus other threads if you do a search.

Travel and Tips might be a good place to start.

I expect a merge imminently.....

Your wish, etc, etc, etc..

Bedoin is literally at the start of the climb, but is pretty small and full of mamils. The whole area round there is beautiful so there is plenty of choice if you want to stay elsewhere and then go in for the ride.

When are you going? I did the Mt ventouz last year on my tour and Avignon is great, especially during the theater festivities.. There's like a two week or even more festival in the old city with al kinds of theater everywhere.. There's are campsites on the island literaly next to the old city centre on the other side of the Rhone..

Do the Nesque Gorge whilst you're there, and if you can get over to the Luberon Mountains then it's a damn good day out (and you can take in the grave of Camus and the old Chateau of the Marquis de Sade).

^ Luberon = good wine.