On a very warm July day I tackled the Mountainbike ascent of Mont Ventoux via Bedoin.

Having previously completed the 3 road routes up via Bedoin, Sault and Malaucène  I was looking for a new challenge. The summit of Ventoux is 22 KM from the start in Bedoin via the forestry roads with the last 4 km being on the Maulecene road up to Mont Ventoux.

The route up was a steady 9-10% on rough forest roads with little shade. Although not particularly technical there are enough rocks and rough areas to make it a challenge.  The route is probably best completed on a mountain bike although you could, at a push, ride a gravel bike.

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The start of a 3 hour off road mountain bike climb up to Mont Ventoux. The secret 4th ascent. #switchbacks #morethan21bends #montventoux #gopro #goprocycling #sako7socks #sockdoping

A post shared by More Than 21 Bends (@morethan21bends) on Jul 7, 2016 at 6:45am PDT

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After 18 km of riding uphill on the gravel road from Bedoin I fell out onto the main route up to Ventoux from Maulecene. For another couple of KMs there still was no sign of the iconic tower on top of Ventoux until I turned the corner….. #montventoux #gopro #morethan21bends #roadslikethese

A post shared by More Than 21 Bends (@morethan21bends) on Jul 8, 2016 at 12:15pm PDT

In all the ride took approximately 3 hours to the summit followed by a 30 minute descent back down the road to Bedoin