Mont Ventoux
Jul 21, 2012 19:33:28 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2012 19:33:28 GMT
Mont Ventoux has become a mythical mountain in Provence, greatly due to the Tour de France, which just can't get enough of it. The Tour has used it as part of the itinerary since 1951, both as a point of passage (1951, 1952, 1955, 1967, 1974, 1994) and also as the end point of the stage (1958, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1987, 2000, 2002, 2009). It is not very tall as mountains go (1912 meters), but it is brutal, and cyclists around the world fear it and crave it. The gradient is more than 10% for certain sections of the road. British cyclist Tom Simpson died there in 1967. There is a shrine to him along the road, even though his death was not glorious: The mountain achieved worldwide notoriety when it claimed the life of British cyclist Tom Simpson, who died here on July 13, 1967 from heat exhaustion caused by a combination of factors including dehydration (caused by lack of fluid intake and diarrhea), amphetamines, and alcohol, although there is still speculation as to the exact cause of his death. He began to wildly weave across the road before he fell down. He was delirious and asked spectators to put him back on the bike, which he rode to within a half mile of the summit before collapsing dead, still clipped into his pedals. Amphetamines were found in his jersey and bloodstream.
Obviously, it attracts cyclists like flies, all year long. Amateurs make the ascension in 1.5-2.5 hours and professionals do it in 1 hour or one and a quarter hour. Well, I preferred to use a Volkswagen Polo to climb it.
It is not at all impressive from a distance, which is why I didn't even take a picture of it before getting there. Here are two elements from the net.
But it is a pretty intense drive anyway, especially because of all of the bicycles on the road. I noticed that the vast majority of cars driving on the road with me were Belgian and Dutch -- flat countries that crave mountains.
Obviously, it attracts cyclists like flies, all year long. Amateurs make the ascension in 1.5-2.5 hours and professionals do it in 1 hour or one and a quarter hour. Well, I preferred to use a Volkswagen Polo to climb it.
It is not at all impressive from a distance, which is why I didn't even take a picture of it before getting there. Here are two elements from the net.
But it is a pretty intense drive anyway, especially because of all of the bicycles on the road. I noticed that the vast majority of cars driving on the road with me were Belgian and Dutch -- flat countries that crave mountains.
Before climbing the mountain, you can always count on seeing a few châteaux along the way.
There are also some cute villages.
And so many cyclists, of all ages!
The paint on the road from old Tours lasts for years.
[photobucket height=480 width=640]http://s450.photobucket.com/albums/qq228/kerouac2/Mont%20Ventoux/?action=view¤t=38cf2eb4.pbw[/photobucket]
There are also some cute villages.
And so many cyclists, of all ages!
The paint on the road from old Tours lasts for years.
[photobucket height=480 width=640]http://s450.photobucket.com/albums/qq228/kerouac2/Mont%20Ventoux/?action=view¤t=38cf2eb4.pbw[/photobucket]