After the rigours of the Marmotte seven members of the CCC saw fit to recuperate in Provence, Helen and Sam Goulding continuing their holiday in Sault and Simon Fenton, Gary de Gruchy, Torty Hubert, Peter Glendewar and Dave Mayman in Vaison la Romaine, the opposite side of Mont Ventoux.

Here's Dave's account of events...

Three days were spent recovering from our efforts of the previous weekend exploring the beautiful Provencal countryside, savouring the local delicacies and quaffing plenty of vin rouge and rose.

Throughout this time le Geant de Provence, Mont Ventoux, stood taunting us. We looked at it while we ate our breakfast on the terrace, it was always in sight on our rides and at night you could see the lights blinking from the tower at the top. From a distance it looks like just a big hill, it hasn’t got the cragginess of a typical Alpine or Pyrenean mountain. But beware, those foothills around the base go up to 1000 metres and the tower is the size of a seven storey block of flats!

The Clubs veteran pro of the mountains, Helen Goulding, achieved the considerable feat of riding the three different ascents of Ventoux in one day in 2008 – even claiming she did it the hardest way by starting from Sault, then Malaucene before what is regarded as the climb from Bedoin.

Helen Goulding throwing down the gauntlet in 2008 - on her third ascent; the infamous Bedoin climb

A certain amount of baiting on her part meant that Simon, Gary and myself would be unable to return to the Island without accomplishing the same, although there was no way we were going to do it in the same order when based only 10k from Malaucene.

The fateful day dawned bright and clear, the plan being for Simon, Gary, Peter and I to do Malaucene first before the young vets dropped down into Bedoin while Peter descended to Sault to rendezvous with Torty. A quick café and croissant before doing Bedoin and meeting up with Peter and Torty in Sault for a leisurely lunch (having had plenty of practice at these in the previous three days) before the final push back to the top of the mountain, down to Malaucene and on to Vaison La Romaine.

The wisest decision of the day was an early start which saw us ride out from our digs at 07.00hrs. 25 minutes later we hit the bottom of the Malaucene climb and instantly settled into a steady pace, leaving Peter to set his own pace for his target of the day. Although Bedoin gets all the glory you mustn’t underestimate the Malaucene climb – same distance of 21km, same average gradient of 7.5% and near enough the same amount of climbing starting just 77m higher than Bedoin.

Spirits were high and the banter was flowing. Targets in the form of cyclists up the road were dispatched with ease (ok so they were on mountain bikes, but who cares). The highlight of that ascent if not for the whole trip (for me if no one else) was the sighting of a black woodpecker that flew across the road in front of us and latched on to the side of a tree in plain view. Unfortunately it was on one of the steepest sections that even I wasn’t prepared to stop on to marvel at Europe’s largest species.

Been there, done that.

For the final two hairpins we were treated to why this mountain has its name – Ventoux, an amalgamation of vent (wind) and tous (all) – all wind, and it was certainly living up to its name. We were buffeted from side to side and Simon started to whimper and ride in the centre of the road to ease his building vertigo. Once we actually made the top it was a case of getting someone to take our photo by the col sign, put on our layers and get down as quickly and safely as we could. The buffeting that we were subjected to for the first couple of bends was unbelievable, as bad as if we were riding with tri-spokes as we were thrown from side to side. It was a case of gripping the bars as tight as you could, the same with the top tube between the knees and praying you would stay on the road. Once down in Bedoin we found a nice café to unwind in and recharge our bottles for the climb ahead. The first 5k out of town are very relaxed, passing the vineyards of the Cote de Ventoux and giving views across the plains to the South. It didn’t take long however to hit the trees and once that happens two things happen – the view disappears and the road ramps up to approx 10%. All you are looking at for the next 10k is the tarmac of the road, going more or less straight up the side of the mountain with only the very occasional view of your target, the tower at the top.

I was riding with 34-27, Simon had 38-29 whilst Gary had the option of 30-27 at his disposal. As those who have been to the mountains know, if you have a lower gear you will use it once the gradient starts to bite. This led to Simon and myself pulling away from Gary as we had to grind away in our larger gearing…that’s quite a diplomatic way of putting it isn’t it?

The images from the Tour do not really do justice to the steepness of this climb, it is relentless. We made sure we kept drinking and eating, we got out of the saddle every now and then to relieve the building pain in our lower backs, and still the road went on up.

The trees started to thin exposing us to the sun again, but then we noticed the gradient starting to ease. Taking the opportunity of a breather we spinned our legs in our low gears but soon we were having to change up as the road levelled – he had reached Chalet Reynard. The final 6.5k to the top come at a reasonable gradient but we soon found out the wind hadn’t eased – as the road zig zags up we were treated to shelter when the road went left and a strong headwind going right. The final 400m straight to the Col de Tempetes was the worst, the wind howled at us giving the photographers all the time in the world to take their snaps and hand out a card.

Once at the top Simon and I quickly got our layers back on for the descent. We passed Gary just by the Tom Simpson memorial, shouting out to him we would wait at Chalet Reynard for him before heading to Sault. Now what are two thirsty men going to do for 15-20 mins whilst waiting for their pal at a bar? Too right, straight on to the terrace for a pression and watch the procession of people suffering on their way to the top. After a leisurely quaff we went back down to the bikes and had just pulled them out of the rack when Gary appeared – phew, not discovered!

The Mont Ventoux Three at the Tommy Simpson Memorial.

The descent to Sault is a lot shallower than the others, rougher too. Nearing the bottom we passed Torty heading up closely followed by Peter – obviously Torty hasn’t lost his competitive spirit and had put in an early attack. We carried on down to Sault and found our favourite bar to refuel our bodies and quench our thirst.

Once our appetites had been satiated we recharged our bottles for the final climb. Starting the climb we again crossed paths with Torty on his way back to Sault to pick up his car. If anyone wants a gentle introduction to Le Geant Sault is the way to do it, a nice steady climb all the way to Chalet Reynard before joining up with the Bedoin route to the top.

Torty had passed us earlier and was waiting for us by the Tom Simpson memorial so we stopped to pay our respects and to have our photo taken there. We got on our way as quickly as we could to stop our legs seizing up, put our layers on again at the top for the exhilarating descent down to Malaucene. We realised it was approaching 16.30hrs – the time the local bar opened which had a decent sized tv, essential for watching the Tour – so it was time for a final blast back to Vaison to complete our day.

And what a day. 97 miles, 4309m of climbing, glorious weather albeit a bit breezy at the top and safe in the knowledge that Helen couldn’t take the mick out of us.

And what of our comrades? Peter Glendewar, 63 and with a nice, shiny new hip fitted only last year managed two of the ascents, Malaucene and Sault for a total of 2687m of climbing. Torty, 73 and still going strong – as anyone who has crossed swords with him when signing on will testify – completed the Sault climb, a fantastic achievement and 1152m of ascension. [Report DM]

The view over a wine glass later that evening...