Mont ventoux

richiemack

A friend who is an avid hill climber has convinced me to tackle the mountain at the end of July before the tour riders come through. Has anyone else rode it? Be interested in hearing reports, reckon I'll need to do some serious training for it, or else Ill be pushing the bike most of the way:)

scottreynolds

richiemack wrote: »

A friend who is an avid hill climber has convinced me to tackle the mountain at the end of July before the tour riders come through. Has anyone else rode it? Be interested in hearing reports, reckon I'll need to do some serious training for it, or else Ill be pushing the bike most of the way:)

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=6197 -- I really want to do this...

blorg

Are you doing just Ventoux or the entire stage? You aren't being persuaded to do the Etape by any chance, as it is that stage this year.

As for training I would just get down to Wicklow and start doing as much climbing as possible, stringing the hills together. You can do basically 0m to 750m up to the top of Kippure, which is near to Dublin. If you can climb well in Wicklow the Alps will be managable. Very important to pace yourself though as the climbs are so much longer.

I have not done Ventoux but have done several other cols in the Pyrenees and Alps as well as in Spain. They were bloody tough but not as difficult as I expected.

richiemack

Not sure the exact plan, think we were just going to do the climb, but seems now there may be a problem with getting an entry

blorg wrote: »

Are you doing just Ventoux or the entire stage? You aren't being persuaded to do the Etape by any chance, as it is that stage this year.

As for training I would just get down to Wicklow and start doing as much climbing as possible, stringing the hills together. You can do basically 0m to 750m up to the top of Kippure, which is near to Dublin. If you can climb well in Wicklow the Alps will be managable. Very important to pace yourself though as the climbs are so much longer.

I have not done Ventoux but have done several other cols in the Pyrenees and Alps as well as in Spain. They were bloody tough but not as difficult as I expected.

niceonetom

The pros are climbing it tomorrow in the Dauphiné. Watching that might give you a slight idea what you are getting in to.

I'd love a go at it.

blorg

richiemack wrote: »

Not sure the exact plan, think we were just going to do the climb, but seems now there may be a problem with getting an entry

You can climb Ventoux whenever you like, no "entry" required. Mention of an entry suggests the plan was the Etape, which involves a mountainous 172km with Ventoux at the end. Would be a great thing to do indeed but getting an entry can be difficult/expensive.

niceonetom

rule of thumb:

If you don't know what the etape is, you probably aren't ready to do it.

That's just IMHO though.

richiemack

Oh right so we should be fine to do the climb the day before the race?

blorg wrote: »

You can climb Ventoux whenever you like, no "entry" required. Mention of an entry suggests the plan was the Etape, which involves a mountainous 172km with Ventoux at the end. Would be a great thing to do indeed but getting an entry can be difficult/expensive.

TinyExplosions

etape, schmetape.. the Marmotte is tougher

ednwireland

dont they close the tour roads off the day before esp on the alpe d'huez and i guess ventoux - imagine the crowds will be spectacular this year (but ii guess you can cycle it just no support car)
the etape has an elimination time http://www.letapedutour.com/2009/ETDT/presentation/us/itineraire.htm
and dont you have to do some pre events to prove your fit enough (just something stuck in my brain from reading a magazine somewhere)

Chips Lovell

richiemack wrote: »

Oh right so we should be fine to do the climb the day before the race?

The Etape I think is on the 20th and the stage itself is the 24th. I'd say the roads around there would be very crowded the day before though.

blorg

The Etape is closed roads on Monday 20 July. The Tour goes through (obviously closed roads) Saturday 25 July. I am not sure about the Friday but AFAIK the roads will be open. I know one person planning on cycling the entire Tour route and I think he was planning on the day before.

richiemack

great will be amazing to do the climb the day before, and then get to the top of the mountain the day of the race to cheer on the boys knowing exactly what theyve been through, well minus the rest of the stage that we'll have skipped

tomc

ednwireland wrote: »

dont they close the tour roads off the day before esp on the alpe d'huez and i guess ventoux - imagine the crowds will be spectacular this year (but ii guess you can cycle it just no support car)
the etape has an elimination time http://www.letapedutour.com/2009/ETDT/presentation/us/itineraire.htm
and dont you have to do some pre events to prove your fit enough (just something stuck in my brain from reading a magazine somewhere)

Does that mean we only have 8 hours to complete the event, was hoping that the last elimination might be at the base of Ventoux?

ROK ON

What happens in these "broom wagon" events if you have a bad day re punctures/mech problems. Are you chucked out, or is it for the genuinely slow?

Why do they do it, is it that the road is only closed for so long?

blorg

ROK ON wrote: »

What happens in these "broom wagon" events if you have a bad day re punctures/mech problems. Are you chucked out, or is it for the genuinely slow?

Why do they do it, is it that the road is only closed for so long?

Punctures/mech problems are treated the same as someone who is just slow AFAIK, you would have to get them fixed before the broom wagon got to you.

Although they are mostly not on closed roads (the Etape is an exception) part of may be so the organisers have a definite time they know they can wrap up and they have all the riders through, many of these events are on a scale far in excess of the likes of the W200.

I think most of it though is just that cyclosportives have a more competitive history on the continent. The likes of the Etape or Marmotte are semi-competitive, with official times, rider placings, a winner, category winners, etc. This is in sharp contrast to all the admonitions "it's not a race" you get with the W200. The Etape and Marmotte are races, if you want to race them.

They would be the cycling equivalent of a marathon- most are there simply to complete but others are looking for a categorisation (there are gold/silver/bronze time bands) and some are looking to seriously race it. Finishing is not just a matter of doing the course, it's doing the course in under the cut-off time (which is reasonably generous.)

sy

richiemack wrote: »

great will be amazing to do the climb the day before, and then get to the top of the mountain the day of the race to cheer on the boys knowing exactly what theyve been through, well minus the rest of the stage that we'll have skipped

Its worth keeping in mind that the mountain will be very busy with camper vans etc the day before the stage. I would recommend a few days before the stage. Not nice sucking in the fumes! I've been up this climb (many moons ago!) and it is one tough cookie. I have ridden the Alps and Pyrenees but this one is special. Long and steep but the weather in Provence is always a lot hotter than the Alps or Pyrenees so be prepared. The mountain is spectacular and looks daunting as you see nothing else! Its not called the Giant of Provence for nothing. The climb thro the forest gives some shade but once you hit that lunar landscape it can be very windy and open but temperature is no longer an issue. The gradient is steep but very steady so you can build a nice rhythm just like these guys. I think this was Armstrong at his best. When you have ridden the climb you will appreciate that this was awesome. Enjoy

Chips Lovell

sy wrote: »

Ihe gradient is steep but very steady so you can build a nice rhythm just like these guys. I think this was Armstrong at his best. When you have ridden the climb you will appreciate that this was awesome. Enjoy

I'd forgotten just how insanely fast those two went up it.

Notice how Armstrong apes Pantani's style of climbing out of the saddle in the drops when he's bridging across to him. Subtle dig perhaps?

SACH Central

el tonto wrote: »

I'd forgotten just how insanely fast those two went up it.

Of course it had nothing to do with EPO.

jlang

blorg wrote: »

I think most of it though is just that cyclosportives have a more competitive history on the continent. The likes of the Etape or Marmotte are semi-competitive, with official times, rider placings, a winner, category winners, etc. This is in sharp contrast to all the admonitions "it's not a race" you get with the W200. The Etape and Marmotte are races, if you want to race them.

They would be the cycling equivalent of a marathon- most are there simply to complete but others are looking for a categorisation (there are gold/silver/bronze time bands) and some are looking to seriously race it. Finishing is not just a matter of doing the course, it's doing the course in under the cut-off time (which is reasonably generous.)

blorg: If the W200 was to be run with a similar broom wagon idea at a similar standard - what kind of time would we be talking to complete?

IM0

richiemack wrote: »

A friend who is an avid hill climber has convinced me to tackle the mountain at the end of July before the tour riders come through. Has anyone else rode it? Be interested in hearing reports, reckon I'll need to do some serious training for it, or else Ill be pushing the bike most of the way:)

Ive done it a few times (even both of the hardest sidesone after the other same day). It depends which side you go up, I suggest you go up the Sault side
(much easier as you not an 'avid climber' and your friend is, and let him take on the real one from Bedoin!) and you can both meet at Chalet Reynard, where you can then ride to the top together the last 6k or so. The playing field will be levelled that way!:pac:

Sault is, well 'easy' 4-5% gradient, Maulocene side is a B*tch 7% or so with nasty stretches/kms of 10% at a time, and Bedoin side is well...about 10% all the way, with no swichbacks or recovery spots, it just goes on and on like ariston an absolute MF! (coming from an avid climber here by the way )
place your bets!

then again if you've got the right gearing you can ride up anything right?

sy

el tonto wrote: »

I'd forgotten just how insanely fast those two went up it.

Notice how Armstrong apes Pantani's style of climbing out of the saddle in the drops when he's bridging across to him. Subtle dig perhaps?

I didn't notice but they say a person apes another person when they fancy them!
@SACH Central. These guys never took EPO, maybe a little Red Bull but def no EPO

kincsem

jlang wrote: »

blorg: If the W200 was to be run with a similar broom wagon idea at a similar standard - what kind of time would we be talking to complete?

While waiting for blorg to do the calculations (or do both events and report back), I'll guess at 8:30 or less for the W200.

I have DVDs of the Etape for a few years (sud-production.fr). The Etape organisers have buses parked to collect the competitors who quit / don't meet the time limits, and trucks for the bikes. The broomwagon is a fleet of recovery vehicles.

SACH Central

sy wrote: »

I didn't notice but they say a person apes another person when they fancy them!
@SACH Central. These guys never took EPO, maybe a little Red Bull but def no EPO

@sy, who knows? Maybe EPO is Red Bulls 'secret' ingredient, not listed on the label They must have consumed gallons litres of it though:rolleyes:

Diarmuid

I think it was mentioned in the thread but Ventoux has a reputation for being VERY hot. My club mates have told me that you can suffer a lot due to the heat. With regards to the broom wagon, once they pass you, you're going in. Doesn't matter if you stopped because of a puncture ,your legs or an apparition of the Virgin Mary.

Managed to get an entry to the Etape this year so looking forward to it!!

Dodser

Never done Ventoux but I've completed L'etape. To my mind doing the mountain the day before the tour passed through, or even the morning that the pelethon were due was much more fun. It's true you do have loads of camper vans and people spraying the roads, but the atmosphere is fantastic! There's a real buzz that lifts you. Everone that's on the mountain is a complete cycling fanatic, roaring you on with cheers of "Allez allez allez". L'etape was a little too structured for me.
Being up at 5.30am and then being part of a pelathon of 7000 cyclists can be a little un-nerving.

richiemack

Delighted to hear the passion about Ventoux, and even happier to have booked the flights, looking forward to rolling over the finishline!!

DirkVoodoo

richiemack wrote: »

Delighted to hear the passion about Ventoux, and even happier to have booked the flights, looking forward to rolling over the finishline!!

Very jealous, it looked savage today. First time I've seen the mountain, really looked like a proper challenge.

Davemcfar

Hiya, Not climbing the Ventoux but will be there as a fan, just wondering if anyone had any tips: Where to stay etc.. Dont have a camper van and the girlfriend demands toilets close by or we aint going, so sound advice needed please please.

Cheers

Chips Lovell

If you haven't booked accomodation yet, you might be out of luck. For example, there was an estimated 250,000 people on the Tourmalet on Saturday and people had started camping out there 10 days beforehand. Given that its the penultimate day of the Tour and the Etape is also on the day before, I'd say it will be packed.

paddy's hill

Was at the summit of the Tourmalet on Sunday. Brilliant. Best day ever on a bike and then the Tour de France as well. I'd say there was easily 200,000 people there, so Ventoux will be more. It was great to see Nicolas Roche at the front with Armstrong and Contador on his wheel. Think you would have to had accommodation months ago. Also if anyone is thinking of going to the Pyrenees for the tour next year, the advise is to book now as it is the centenary of the tour in the mountains and lots of hotels are booked already. Prudhomme has said that 2010 will be all about the Pyrenees.

Davemcfar

Yeah I might be too late. we got a cheap deal for the boat over recently so I said lets drive south and see some living legends on the most exciting stage of the best race in the world.

is there any camp sites within walking distance of anywhere on the hill?

paddy's hill

It's 22km to the summit. I would say every campsite in cycling distance is full as well.

richiemack

I got accomodation in Avignon for the first night I arrive, then it'll be a sleeping bag on the side of the mountain or a doorway, everywheres booked up

Davemcfar

Cheers,
I'll have to convince the girlfriend that sleeping bags and no toilets are all part of the adventure of a good holiday

big mce

I am in Morzine (approx 2hrs away)for a week mountain biking and was thinking of heading early on the Saturday morning to Ventoux and walking up some of the climb. Is this do-able?

tomc

You may get somewhere if you look a little further south, we only booked a place in Aix en Provence about 2 weeks ago

rottenhat

Rode it a couple of weeks ago coming from the Bedoin side and it was tough enough going - it was a hot day (over 30 at the bottom of the climb, I would say) and there's pretty much no respite once you're onto the climb proper, although it does ease off a little after you pass the chalet around 15k. For at least 10k I was in my second-lowest gear (30 x 25, I think) though I shifted up as the climb went on. There are no sections that are dramatically steep, it's just a matter of having the will and the endurance to keep climbing for two solid hours.

The feeling of satisfaction afterwards is fantastic.

bcmf

I am staying at a campsite berween Avignon and Ventoux.Campsites are complet and would imagine anywhere within driving distance are full as well.Today was bloody hot.Reckon late 30's so anyone coming over be prepared.
Right I am off for more beers.

















and no.....I I have no intention of going up the monster.

scottreynolds

Davemcfar wrote: »

Cheers,
I'll have to convince the girlfriend that sleeping bags and no toilets are all part of the adventure of a good holiday

Of course .... you could sleep on the road.... even on Lances name. You need to convince her that mating during the TDF bring you favourite riders luck.

Davemcfar

If we have to sleep on the road, there'll be no mating full stop.

I'll have to break the news that we may be sleeping rough, with a box of chocs and flowers, I've a feeling they'll be slung back at me

richiemack

Just back from Le Tour, and what an amazing experience. Climbed the Ventoux twice, well 1 3/4 times in two days, and it was the most fantastic toughest cycle Ive ever done, being a novice Ive not much to compare it to but it was super!! We Arrived in Orange a town about 50 kms from Bedoin on Friday morning, rented some very nice road bikes from Velo Attitudes, mine was a nice Lapierre s lite something or other, perfect for the job 50 euro for two days. Off we headed under the scorching mid 30's of the miday sun, big bags on our backs, to head down to Ventoux. Im not a fan of the heat, but the trip was very enjoyable, everyone heading the same way for the same reason.
When we arrived it was bicycle porno heaven, pinarello, cervello, the best of the best bikes everywhere just laying against walls, no locks, and no1 standing over them, unbelievable.
After a lovely lunch of pasta(which turned out to be a disaster), we found some where to leave our bags and headed for the mountain, 22km to the summit, 10% average gradient with 12.5% on the worst sections, then you have to factor in the massive winds and teeth chattering cold on top.
Anyhow we loaded up on water and deoralite before we left as dehydration in the days heat was so easy, heat stroke is something to worry about as well.
So the first few kms are a nice warm up, and as we headed up to where the mountain starts to show you whos boss, my friend took off in front, managing a time of 1.38, meanwhile my stomach started to show me who was boss, it was saying listen here you might think your going up that mountain but im not. With no granny ring, and my stomach giving me terrible problems added with the heat I was struggling badly, eventually I got off for about 20 mins, feeling so miserable and depressed, waited for it all to settle down, refueled, and soon as I started goin again my body just said no, I fighted and fighted out of sheer determination, and a good dose of stupidity and managed to get within about 7km of the summit before I realised that if I did make it out of the trees to where there was no shade from the heat, and up to the summit, I would not be cycling back down, so I packed it in, and headed back down, feeling absolutely dreadful.
Grumpy as hell, and with only a sleeping bag for shelter we got dinner, after wating for an hour an half and found somewhere to curl up. Luckily it didn't rain, as my sleeping bag would not kept me dry!!
The following morning after a distrupted sleep I felt bizzarely fresh and motivated, got up at 6.30 had breakfast, and rode straight up Ventoux with the biggest smile on my face, the crowds were cheering everyone, the bands and djs were playing along the route, and everyone was sooo excited, and of course after yesterdays failure I had even more of a reason to be happy. I made it up in about 2 hours, passing out guys on 7k bikes, super fancy gear, couldn't believe it. I took it handy as I wanted to get to the top without burning out, but I just couldn't believe the people I was passing, for once I had guys sitting on my wheel, and not being able to keep up! so chuffed. When we got to the summit they closed the barriers behind us, 5 mins later and it wouldnt have happened, fate had a big part to play!!
The tour came through a few hours later, and that was just spectacular!! The cavalcade of sponsors throwing free stuff out beforehand was also great fun, got a few hats n bits n bobs, which all went missing somewhere along the way. It was very exciting when we were being told by the French 5km before they arrive, theres a breakaway, we dont know whos in it, 10 mins, then we could see the helicopters, old people shoving their way out on the road, people going crazy, just amazing, and of course in about 6minutes it was all over, trying to see the riders was a super fast momentary thing, only saw Roches back, only saw Armstrong twice, confusing him with nother Astana rider, ah twas all just amazing, and I would recommend it to anyone. As for Ventoux, every cyclist must climb it.
Its totally acheivable if you give yourself enough time and pace yourself. An American came up to us wanting to know if we had been up, asked us our times, the slowest being 2 hours, and he was ecstatic about climbing it in 3, so it goes to show that for many, including me, its about conquering the mountain, then the crazy people can race up it all they like. Oh and if you like high speed downhill! youve got 22km of it!!!

Dodser

Watched it live on Eurosport. It looked amazing. Lance Armstrong was interviewed after it and said he had never seen a crowd as big ever before on a hill stage.

oflahero

Great stuff richiemack. Planning on doing this in September myself, don't know what I'll do without the cheering crowds to egg me on to the top.

tomc

Took me nearly 4 hours....but then again we had put 150K before the climb.

el tel

great post richiemack - I could feel both your pain and elation there!

2 Wheels Good

Well done richiemack, fair play for going back to give it a 2nd go. Hoping to do it on wednesday all going well! Flying out in the morning.

richiemack

pat_hurley@yaho wrote: »

Well done richiemack, fair play for going back to give it a 2nd go. Hoping to do it on wednesday all going well! Flying out in the morning.

Good on ya, only tips I have are to take it easy on the first few km, a lot of people start hard and pay for it further up. Also deoralite is a must, its hard to stay hydrated in the heat. Bring your own water bottles over as the French only have those poncey half sized ones

2 Wheels Good

So, I went there, can't explain how tough it is. Almost left my stomach on the slopes, hundreds on the climb so battled on and made it in 2 30 ish. Can't remember much about a lot of it. Lack of training showed but glad i did it. Tempted to get the pro photos from the slopes for memories
To top it off, decided to try from Malaucène the day after. Made it up in one piece this time and was able to enjoy the top a bit more!
But for anyone trying it, be ready! Dehydration could be a killer so top up at Bedoin and Chalet Reynard. And be ready for a big smile on the face under the sign post!