Mont Ventoux
From Bédoin · 21.8 km · 7.4 % average
Photo: Photo: FrogsLegs71 · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Start
- Bédoin
- Summit
- 1,910 m
- Distance
- 21.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,617 m
- Average gradient
- 7.4 %*
- Maximum gradient
- Not reliably sourced
- Difficulty
- Extreme (FIETS 12.9)
The climb at a glance
Schematic A straight line at the average gradient – the real road is steeper in places and easier in others.
- Until Saint-Estève the road averages 3.9 % over 5.8 km; the remaining 16 km average 8.9 % (Wikipedia).
- Exposed summit: the mistral has reached 320 km/h at the top (Wikipedia).
In the footsteps of the pros
- Tour de France: ascended eighteen times since 1951, per Wikipedia at retrieval.
How long might it take?
| Sustained power | ≈ Time |
|---|---|
| 2.5 W/kg | 2 h 13 |
| 3.5 W/kg | 1 h 37 |
| 4.5 W/kg | 1 h 18 |
Estimate Physics model at constant power on a constant 7.4 % gradient: rider 75 kg, bike and kit 9 kg, rolling resistance 0.005, CdA 0.4 m², air density 1.1 kg/m³, 3 % drivetrain loss; W/kg relative to rider weight; no wind, no stops. Real times vary – this is not a standard.
Best season
High-mountain road: typically a summer and early-autumn climb – check pass opening before you travel.
Weather & altitude
Summit at 1,910 m: expect it to be much colder than in the valley – roughly 6–7 °C per 1,000 m in typical conditions.
Surface & traffic
[PLACEHOLDER] Road surface, traffic and tunnels – to verify
Water & food
[PLACEHOLDER] Fountains, cafés and the last shop before the top – to verify
Descent
[PLACEHOLDER] Descent notes – surface, hairpins, cold. Always pack a layer.
Nearby climbs
- Alpe d'Huez ≈ 120 km away (straight line)
- Col du Galibier ≈ 133 km away (straight line)
- Col de la Madeleine ≈ 165 km away (straight line)
Sources & verification
Data Figures copied from the sources listed, retrieved 14 Nov 2026. Published numbers differ with the exact start and finish – we show one sourced version. Exact start point and date of on-the-road verification: [PLACEHOLDER] to record.