Mont Ventoux, 27 May 2025

After recovering from the Euros in Pamploma, my husband and I headed to France with the goal of a long awaited attempt to cycle up Mont Ventoux for my husband’s 65th birthday. We had planned a trip to do this for his 60th which was in 2020 and all was cancelled. Hubby had a bit of practice cycling up the Tourmalet on route to Provence - I was support as still suffering from a cold.

We were staying in a lovely B&B with views of Mont Ventoux. We decided on the day before his birthday for our attempt as that was the best forecast.

I was not at all convinced I could do this, I'm not a hill climber. The profile for the ascent from Bedouin is 21k in distance and 1400m of ascent. The first 5k is relatively easy,  followed by 10k at an average of 10% in a forest. The last 6k is not so steep but on the open moonscape that Ventoux is famous for, and very exposed. We had a good breakfast, drove to Bedouin had a coffee to set us up and off we went.

The advice is to take it easy and spin the legs in the first 5k. I did this reasonable successfully and felt ok. Once we reached the forest it got steeper straight away but I was coping OK. A couple of km in I needed to fuel with a gel, I got it out my pocket but realised there was no way I could open it on the steeper gradients we were on. Told hubby I would stop to have my gel and he could carry on as I know he is a purist and doesn't like to stop. I was happy to be on my own with no pressure. I carried on stopping to fuel once more. Amazingly I made it through to the end of the forest and Chalet Reynard came into view. I could feel the change in temperature, so I stopped to put arm warmers on. Just 6k to go I told myself, you can do it. My was that 6k tough. Not as steep but the bits into the wind were so hard. The landscape is amazing and you can see the top getting bigger with every bend. No more stops as I knew I wouldn't be able to go again I was soo tired. My heartrate had been over 160 for a couple of hours. With 1.5k to go I saw hubby heading back down, it took him by surprise as I think he thought I couldn't make it. He turned round and cajoled me to the top. He was on a real high at thus point. Finally the last steep ramp and I've done it.

My photos amuse me as I look exhausted. I was shaking and not sure it had sunk in. Graham was totally happy in his. After a sit down and a chocolate bar. Hubby bought me a souvenir cycling top which I put on along with my extra layer to head back down. 

I was slightly anxious about the descent as the top bit was very gusty. I got through it and got to the chalet before the steep bit and stopped for a coffee and some food. The rest of the descent I really enjoyed, my new bike handles beautifully, and it all started to sink in.

Wow what a day, at the age of 62 with two joint replacements I did something I never thought I could do. 

I would never have been able to do this without all those tough training sessions from Tim. All the VO2max sessions which I've failed at and felt so rubbish have really made a difference.

Julia Dolman