All right. We’ve done it.
27. Sep.2025: After a 14-hour drive, we finally arrive at our accommodation in Bedoin. We decide to start the tour the very next day.
The weather forecast is sunny, with little wind and temperatures around 19°C. At the summit, it will be 6-7°C.
We eat a hearty dinner, then go to bed.
I wake up before the alarm clock and make breakfast. My stomach tells me I’m nervous. We eat a few slices of toast with honey.
Then we set off. We get our first stamp at the boulangerie. The saleswoman wishes us ‘Bon courage!’ on our way. In front of the boulangerie, an elderly Frenchman asks us if we want to climb Ventoux three times. He gives us a thumbs up.
1st climb (28. Sep. 2025, 8:30 a.m.) Bedoin: elevation gain 1620 m, 21.5 km, 7.5% (max. 12.5%)
We take the first ascent to the summit very calmly. We don’t want to get anywhere near the red zone so we can save as much energy as possible. That’s why the ride through the forest is very easy for us – deceptively easy. We joke around and even do a little sprint. Most of the other riders we encounter are working harder than us this morning. We feel great.
Two years ago, it took us 2:03 hours to climb from Bedoin. This time, we are slower as planned, stamp our card in the souvenir shop and take the descent to Malaucene. The sun is shining and we are not cold. We can enjoy the descent.
2nd climb Malaucene: 1570 m, 21.2 km, 7.5% (max. 14%)
In Malaucene, we find the next opportunity to stamp our card in a shop (Ventoux Finisher). We fill up our bottles and eat our sandwiches. We are in good spirits. We think we can easily manage the two upcoming climbs. We have no idea how foolish we are! In the shop, we buy some cola and are even offered a piece of cake. The shopkeeper wishes us good luck and we set off again.
But now it’s getting tough. I once read somewhere that when attempting a Cinglés, the second ascent is always the worst – no matter where you start. After a few, very few kilometres, we realise how true this is. The ascent from Malaucene is very different from Bedoin. Here, the gradients change more frequently. Sometimes it’s a little flatter, then very steep again: 10%, 12%, 14%…
There are different opinions about the three ascents. Many riders prefer Malaucene because it is not as boring as the forest from Bedoin.
We disagree. We find nothing appealing about the Malaucene ascent. There is not much to see. Here, too, much of the route goes through forest. And the summit only comes into view very late.
But we’re not here for the view.
This second climb is quite demanding. Some of the steep sections are very long. There is one section that is miserably long and straight with a gradient of more than 10%. I don’t know what is more demanding: the legs or the mind?
We continue to ride at our own pace. I usually ride a little ahead and wait from time to time so that we arrive at the top together.
The sun disappears and it gets cooler and cooler. At the roundabout to the Mont Serein ski station, we already put on our arm warmers.
At this point, we have climbed about 2700 metres. There is no trace left of our relaxed mood down in Malaucene. The Ventoux shows us that we laughed too soon. And it shows us that there is nothing to laugh about anymore.
It is very late when we see the summit and its tower again. We can see the last steep ramps ahead of us. Fortunately, we meet other cyclists from time to time. ‘Allez!’ ‘Courage!’ We hear these cheers and cheer on the others. It all helps a lot and lifts the mood a little.
Back at the summit, we don’t stay long. Another photo is taken. We buy Oranginalemonade and chocolate bars in the shop. We put on everything we have and hurtle down to Sault. It has become windier and there is no sun anywhere. I freeze within seconds and my arms are shaking so much that I’m worried I’ll lose control of my handlebars. From Chalet Renard at 1,400 metres, things get better, but it only slowly becomes less cold. The descent to Sault is the longest and most boring. At the very bottom, just before Sault, the road climbs again: 1 kilometre at almost 6%. It’s annoying. My legs are cold.
3rd climb Sault: 1210 m, 25.8 km, 4.7% (max. 12.5%)
In Sault, we get our last stamp and share a ham pizza at Chez Bruno. The break is a little longer than usual, but it doesn’t give us any new energy or any form of recovery. I just can’t get warm. What’s more, I don’t seem to be able to tolerate the gels. My stomach is rumbling.
We tackle the third climb. It’s very difficult to get back into my stride. For the first time today, I fall behind. I just can’t keep up with my brother. My body won’t let me. It’s strange. My pulse remains well within the green zone. But I can’t break my rhythm. Step by step, I fall behind. This continues for almost 4 km. I fall behind by a total of one minute and there’s nothing I can do about it. I start to think about how I’m going to get to the top. Only after a toilet break do I suddenly start to feel better again.
I’m happy that I can pedal again, but I’m not looking forward to what’s still to come. I’m not afraid of the last 19 kilometres uphill, but I am afraid of the descent. I can’t forget the cold, and it’s still in my bones.
I have a lot of time to ponder during the ascent. This day is like a play in three acts. In the first act, everyone is happy and having fun. In the second act, dark clouds gather and the actors are tormented. In the third act, the situation comes to a head and the participants are put to the test until the finale.
Two kilometres before Chalet Renard, I put on my arm warmers and eat another gel and a fig. I don’t want to stop before the summit. Finally, we are back at Chalet Renard. Only 6 km and about 500 metres of elevation gain to go. The mountain is much emptier than this morning. We have the rocky desert almost to ourselves. We ride together for a while longer. Then I see a white jacket further up. I had already seen this rider far above us on the climb from Sault. I decide to catch up with him and pick up the pace.
I only slowly close the gap. Eventually, I get closer because the rider pauses on a bend. I now realise that it is a young woman. She is on the climb for the third time today, like us.
She is just as exhausted as I am. I somehow manage to get within 20 metres of her. Then it seems to take forever to get even a centimetre closer.
The road becomes steep again. She suddenly starts zigzagging. I am mesmerised and start zigzagging too. It’s a bit slapstick.
Finally, I’m next to her. I gasp, ‘Just 500 metres.’ She nods. ‘Yes.’
I suggest, ‘Let’s fight together.’ It’s easier together.
Finally at the top. The summit is almost empty. I put on my windbreaker and wait for my brother. We hug and are happy that we made it. After the obligatory photo, we start our descent. We start off slowly so that the wind doesn’t cool us down too much, but from Chalet Renard onwards, we enjoy the descent on the empty road.
At around 7:15 p.m., we are back at our accommodation.
We shower, eat and celebrate our achievement with a few beers. We are happy.
