The Best Road Cycling Routes in Mont Ventoux

A big loop around the Ventoux massif without going over the top. From Bedoin you head through Malaucene and out toward Col de Fontaube, where the road gets quieter and the views open up across the north side of the mountain. From there you continue toward Sault on calm, lightly ridden roads. The return through the Gorges de la Nesque is the highlight. The road is carved into limestone cliffs with long, sweeping lines and exposed views down into the canyon. From there the Route de la Gabelle brings you back toward Bedoin through more sheltered, rolling terrain.

This route rolls out of Bédoin and drifts into a completely different landscape, leaving the slopes of Ventoux behind for open farmland and quiet, flat roads. It passes through a string of small towns and villages like Aubignan and Sarrians, where the pace slows and the riding becomes more about flow than effort. As the route stretches further west, it brushes sections near the l’Ouvèze, with long straight lines through vineyards, orchards and fields framed by cypress trees. The terrain stays mostly gentle, making it ideal for steady riding, while the constant views of Ventoux in the distance keep a quiet connection to the mountain.

You climb the hardest side of Ventoux first, grinding through the forest from Bedoin before the exposed final stretch to the summit. The descent toward Malaucene is fast and flowing, with longer bends and changing gradients that keep you paying attention. From Malaucene you cross back to Bedoin over Col de la Madeleine, a quiet, gentle climb through forest that feels like a proper cool-down after the main event. Most of the elevation is packed into the Ventoux ascent, so the return leg rolls easily.

A big loop that starts with the gentle Sault approach to Ventoux. You ride most of the way at a comfortable gradient before joining the steeper final stretch near Chalet Reynard. The descent toward Malaucene is varied and fast. From Malaucene you cross Col de la Madeleine and drop through Bedoin, then take the Route de la Gabelle back toward Sault. That last stretch is rolling and forested, with a viewpoint at the Belvedere de la Gabelle before you drop back into town

From Bedoin you head out toward Venasque, then climb Col de Murs and Col de la Ligne back to back. Neither is steep, and both are quiet, so you settle into an easy rhythm away from the busier Ventoux roads. From Monieux you join the Gorges de la Nesque, where the road cuts through limestone cliffs with big exposed sections and views down into the canyon. The return toward Flassan and Bedoin is faster and more flowing. The gorge section alone makes this loop worth doing.