Mont Ventoux

You see Ventoux from almost every road in the area. That bare white summit sits on the horizon while you ride through vineyards and lavender, a constant reminder of what you came for. It's one of the few cycling destinations where the mountain is the entire trip, three different ways up, a network of quieter roads around it, and a handful of small towns where the whole rhythm of the place revolves around the bike.

The three classic ascents each give you a different ride. Bedoin is the one with the reputation: steep, relentless forest climbing followed by the exposed moonscape above Chalet Reynard. Malaucene is less predictable, with a gradient that keeps changing and punchy ramps that make it harder to pace. Sault is the long, gentle approach, easy enough to hold a conversation for most of the way up before the final stretch hits you at Chalet Reynard. Ride all three in a day and you earn the Cingles du Ventoux, a challenge that draws riders here from across Europe.

What surprises most people is how good the riding is away from the mountain itself. The Gorges de la Nesque is a road carved into limestone cliffs with sweeping views down into the canyon. Col de Fontaube takes you through quiet countryside on the north side where you barely see another car. The roads around the Albion plateau and toward the Baronnies are rolling, empty, and a completely different character from the climbs.

Bedoin and Sault are the two main bases. Bedoin is the busier one, with bike shops, cafes, and rental places clustered around the square, and the hardest climb starting at the edge of town. Sault is quieter and higher up, surrounded by lavender fields, with the most gradual route starting from the village. Malaucene works too, especially if you want to be on the north side. All three are close enough that you can ride between them without needing a car.

The roads are well surfaced and mostly quiet outside of peak summer. In July and August the Bedoin side gets busy with tourist traffic and the heat pushes you toward early starts. May, June, and September are the sweet spot: the summit is open, the temperatures are comfortable, and you'll share the roads with other cyclists more than cars.