Cycling Mont Ventoux from Bédoin. 21 July 2025 This video will help you climb Mount Ventoux

Cycling Mont Ventoux on Monday 21st July 2025 was amazing as thousands and thousands of cyclists, cycled up because it was the day before the 2025 Tour de France finish on the top of Mont Ventoux through the village of Bédoin. Conquering Mont Ventoux is a ride to remember from Bédoin. When it comes to legendary climbs, Mont Ventoux in Provence, France is the Everest of cycling. Its stark beauty and brutal gradients have challenged professionals for decades and on this particular day, it was my turn to join the ranks of the determined.
Rolling out through Bédoin’s Street Market the morning hum of Bédoin on Monday 21st July 2025 was alive with colour and chatter as we walked with our bicycles through the bustling street market. Stalls overflowed with fresh produce, lavender bundles, and handmade crafts, each step was pulling me deeper into the rhythm of Provence. My GoPro camera was rolling, and already, the ride felt cinematic. Vineyard vibes and warming legs as I left the village of Bédoin behind, the road invited me gently, gradients shifting from 2% to a demanding 8% over the first 4 kilometers. I passed rows of vineyards basking in the soft light, each grapevine a quiet witness to the history carved into this mountain.
Then came the forest. A sudden hush as towering trees cloaked the road in shade. I was glad of the trees protection from the sun as already morning temperatures were at 26 degrees and climbing. The silence was broken only by the rhythm of my breath and the mechanical hum of bicycles all around me, thousands of cyclists, each with the same goal, to reach the top of Mont Ventoux. The gradient leapt to a punishing 12% through the forest and every turn was earned. This was the soul of Mont Ventoux, challenging, relentless, yet undeniably magnificent and I was loving every meter of it. My video telling the true story of every change in gradient at every kilometre.
Six kilometers or so from the summit, the forest opened up at Le Chalet Reynard. It felt like surfacing for air after a deep dive. My legs burned, but the panorama took my mind off the pain. The lunar like landscape stretched before me, a stark contrast to the lush greenery of the forest and vineyards below. Mont Ventoux revealed its bare crown, and I could almost hear its silent call to push on.
Near the summit, I slowed as I reached the Tom Simpson memorial. A moment of reflection. I tipped my helmet in respect to the British cycling legend whose life ended here in pursuit of greatness. It was humbling. Inspiring.
The final push was pure willpower. Each pedal stroke felt like a victory and I loved every second. And then, there I was. On top of the Giant of Provence, the Bald Mountain, Le Mount Ventoux. Wind and sun in my face, heart racing, camera recording, soul alight. A breath taking view sprawled in all directions, as my journey became not just a ride, but a story. Views that steal your breath. It was one of those never to be forgotten moments in my life as a cyclist. Paul Gammell.

All right. Come on. Come on. Yeah. Heat. Come on heat. Have to say anything. Under the break, you know Just starting the monu climb and it’s only 2 3% as you go out the road before you actually get into the climbing. A quick look at my garment there. But there’s a lot of cars, thousands of cycles here today. And today is the 21st of July, 2025. That’s Mon 2 in the distance. We’re just only starting the climb. The atmosphere is fantastic here today. Come on, Ben. do it. Temperature very hot now this morning and we’re cycling through some vineyards uh for the wine as usual. 1.2 is bit hidden by trees at the moment, but we’re only about 4K into it. It’s between five and 8%. It looks like they’ve closed the roads here now. I think only local traffic. So hopefully we’ll have no cues. Now we’re starting to get into the red from about here on. So I was ramping up to 910 and this is it. Yeah. around 10 11% for that section. Kind of getting a bit into the orange now. So, it’s dropping down to 9%. Um, nice roads. We’re going through the woods here. Cough climb. So around 12:14 all the way here now through the forest. distance to go to the top of Mount Vu 9 and 1/2 km. So from 21 down to 9 and a half. It’s been tough. It’s been on 10, 11, 12, max 13. Most sections are like that. A nice easy start into it or 4K and then it gets savage. So, and they say the last 6K are the same as well. So, just cl away. Still going through the woods. Uh about 9k to go and it’s very very hot. But we got some good shade here on the trees. Makes it a bit more enjoyable. Yeah. Full gas. But enjoying it. It’s an amazing climb. It’s the one everyone has to do. tough. Well done. Into a slight headwind. Not too much, but nice and cooling. Went to almost the last 6k. Uh so yeah, the shade from the trees is perfect in this heat. As you can see, it’s fair sunny and fair warm. Now we’re starting to get into a moonlike structure, which is why Mount Vu is so famous. Uh they call it the ball mountain because of the limestone that’s at the top where nothing grows. So, it’s unique, but it’s a great climb. Give a wave. Hello. Hello. This is 6 km out from the top. Already the barriers are up. Keep the crowds out which will be packed here tomorrow. Yeah, spectacular view at the top just over the vans. Huh? What’s the Painting the roads with the names of the riders for the to friends coming tomorrow. Camper vans are all inside getting ready. the roads with the names of the riders coming tomorrow. Camper vans are all inside and ready. Some kind of legit after passing. Wow. So fast 5k to go when we passed that kind of a shalet place. Uh I forget the name. I was thinking of it. But uh there 6k to go. But this last k was quite easy. It was only 4%. So it gives you a chance to catch up. Right. Have a look around at the beautiful, beautiful landscape. And also look at all these ebikes passing me out. Yeah, great fun. If I cycle a mountain, I cycle it on a bicycle. Never an ebike. Yeah, it looks like the mountains open today. The barriers are open. On the last 5k, you can’t seem to get much views here. Just the rocks on the side and ahead. But I say it’ll open up now the higher we go. Heat. Heat. This is where Chris R was walking up Montouru and the tour to France. Just about 3 and 1/2k to the top. Starting to open up now. got easy enough. Only 4K 4% for the last two 3k 3k and now it’s up to 8. So very manageable. And now we can see the top of Mount Vu in the distance. That’s it. Mine too. Had to get a picture. Yeah. Spectacular site. It’s absolutely fantastic. And this is the last 3K. So going to enjoy every every meter of it. This is it. Getting near the top. You know, Just 3 kilometers to go and it’s at 8%. Little bit of a headwind which is fine. Keeping us cool, keeping me cool anyway. And uh great views. It’s a perfect day for it. It’s only about 26° but it gets cooler as you go up. So feels about 18 at the moment. Yeah. Brilliant. This is it. This is Mount Vu. All it is is pure rock. Hello. Hello. Hello. Yeah, it’s like being on the moon. A nice little wind against us now and uh keeping us cool. Uh you can feel they’re getting higher. You can feel it in your stomach. You can feel it in your head. Yeah, the altitude you’re starting to get there. We got 2.26 26 km to the top and it really is spectacular. It’s up to 8% again now in the last 2 km. We’re getting getting ready for the tour here. It’s time to put up the barriers for tomorrow’s tour to France on the 22nd of July. Hello. Hello. Hello. 1 kilometer from the top. So, this is where the kite will be tomorrow for the tour. And it goes at about 8%. Road is getting busy here cuz they’re putting out the barriers. So, it’s going to be very difficult to get through. We’re coming up to the Tom Simpson Memorial and I stop on the way down, get a photo. And Desio’s up now as well, so it’s going to be difficult. Yeah, that’s the memorial to Tom Simpson who died in the 1967 tour to France. And his last words were, “Get me back on my bike. Coming up to the last halfk. Uh it’s at 10 11% here. Coming up to the last halfk. Uh, it’s at 10 11% here. Almost there. Spectacular. Just brilliant. Almost there. Spectacular. Just brilliant. Last couple of uh about 100 m lift. Okay. That’s it. Last couple of uh about 100 meters left. I’ve reached the top of Mount Vanu. It’s a fantastic climb. It has everything. 12%, 13%, even down to 2%. It has it all. The views are spectacular and the actual atmosphere up here is unreal. It’s a must for any cyclist. Mount Vu. Also, the finish of the tour to fans tomorrow is up there on top, but it’s it’s closed off today cuz it’s tour tomorrow. That’s where the cyclist will be finishing tomorrow. Should be a great day. This is the top of two. You can hear in the background they’re getting ready for the tour tomorrow. And this is where the finish will be. Try and get myself as high as possible here. Some spectacular views up here. It’s getting a little bit cool now. It’s a bit windy. asked me to do this. All right. Right here. What’s happen? Heat up here. This is where Tom Simpson died in 1967 in the tour to France. And the last words that he said was, “Put me on my bike.” A tribute to a great cyclist. Passion of the to France. Heat. Heat. Heat up here. You tell people will be coming back from France this year. They were here before we sat down, right? My name is go. Let’s go. We got this. Heat. Heat. That self. Heat. Heat. heat up. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Hey, heat. Hey, heat. Honey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Yeah. Hey, hey, hey. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hey, These are the thousands of cyclists that are going up for uh the stage today on Monu to see the tour to France. So, we’re here about 8 kilometers up the um up the climb and just getting a nice spot to watch the tour. There’s ants in my pants. Ants in your pants. You have the flag up there. Yesterday on your own. Yeah, I made it there. Yeah. Well done, Vinnie.