Itinerary Expand all Fly to Marseille; transfer to Sault at the foot of Ventoux; short warm up ride through the Provencal countryside. Fly to Marseille then transfer (less than 2 hours) to the charming village of Sault, right at the foot of Mont Ventoux. After time to check bikes and make any final adjustments, we will head out for a short warm up ride south west from Sault through the Provencal countryside around Monieux. That evening there will be a welcome meeting with your leader and the opportunity to discuss the route in more detail. Cycle approx. 38km with 520m ascentComfortable hotel Day 1 Start Sault at the foot of Ventoux; short warm up ride through the Provencal countryside. Start Sault, right at the foot of Mont Ventoux. After time to check bikes and make any final adjustments, we will head out for a short warm up ride south west from Sault through the Provencal countryside around Monieux. That evening there will be a welcome meeting with your leader and the opportunity to discuss the route in more detail. Cycle approx. 38km with 520m ascentComfortable hotel Day 2 Descend through the Gorges de la Nesque; climb Mont Ventoux (1912m) from Bedoin via the famous Tour de France route. Today we head to the iconic Mont Ventoux! Our ride starts with a great descent that winds itself through the magnificent Gorges de la Nesque. This is a lovely ride in its own right, but only the start of today's excitement. Arriving in Bedoin we can stop for a coffee break before starting the climb up Mont Ventoux (1912m) by the most famous Tour de France route. It is certainly a challenge as the road climbs for 21.5km at an average of 7.5% to the summit. The final 5km are tough with pitches as steep as 10.7 %, you'll have earnt a celebratory drink by the top! A scenic 30km descent takes us back to Sault, probably for another celebratory drink. Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Cycle through undulating rural scenery to Malaucene; climb Ventoux via a less ridden but equally spectacular route. After breakfast we set out on the bikes to take on Ventoux for the second time, but this time via the less ridden and equally beautiful ascent from Malaucene. The first part of our ride is mainly downhill as we follow a lovely balcony road in the foot hills of Ventoux before arriving in the town of Malaucene, here we can stop for a coffee and snack break before starting the climb up Ventoux. The ascent form this side has an average gradient of 7.2% and rises 1535m over the 21.2km, making it in theory a little easier than yesterday’s ride. From the summit we have a brilliant 35km of downhill all the way back to the hotel in Sault. Meals included: Breakfast Optional self-guided morning ride then transfer to Marseille; fly to London. Free morning to go for a short ride around Sault before transferring to Marseilles airport. Fly to London. Please note that the return transfer is roughly 135km long, the route can sometimes be busy and traffic levels surrounding Marseilles can be high. Because of this we leave Sault with plenty of time to make sure we arrive at the airport in time for their flight. This can mean that on some departures when there is no traffic we might arrive at the airport earlier than expected. Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Optional self-guided morning Ride; trip ends in Sault For the final day of the tour you have the option to head out on a short ride before the airport transfer. The self-guided ride follows a road to the south of the Nesque gorges through small traditional towns like Saint-Jean and Methamis before turning and climbing up the Nesque Gorge road back to Sault. This climb is 19.7km long with a total elevation of 444m at an average gradient of 2.3% making it a perfect climb after two tough days on the bike. Once back at the hotel there will be time to pack bags and any bikes brought from home before the tour ends here. Meals included: Breakfast
Hotel du Louvre We stay in the 2-star Hotel du Louvre throughout the itinerary. This bike-friendly family-run hotel is ideally located in the centre of the village of Sault, right at the foot of Mont Ventoux. All rooms have en suite facilities and the hotel has a popular restaurant and bar with a pleasant outside seating area on the town square.
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Reviewed September 2019 John Hazeldine Trip: Mont Ventoux Cycling Weekend Mont Ventoux Cycling weekend Well-organised and a very enjoyable trip What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Being able to summit Mont Ventoux (from 2 different routes) What did you think of your group leader? Very good - clearly very experienced and organised
Reviewed October 2018 Mike Taylor Trip: Mont Ventoux Cycling Weekend Seven go to Mt Ventoux ! We had a fantastic time; great cycling, beautiful scenery, good humour, two epic climbs up Mt Ventoux, nice food and wine, pleasant company, perfect weather and everything worked out just fine. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Cycling up Mt Ventoux from Bedoin on day 2. A continual uphill slog of between 1.5 and 2.5 hours depending on your fitness and weight, pedalling out of the woods and into the lunar landscape of the final 6 km at the summit which looks out over Provence at 1900m above sea level. This is an iconic location from Tour de France's of years gone by with it's distinctive transmitter building and mast at the top, our inspirational moment. What did you think of your group leader? Yves was a frist rate leader. Organised, well prepared, suitably cautious, good fun, knowledgable, patient and selfless and also a good photographer who snapped us in action. He speaks very good English, knows about cycling, and also know the area very well. He is an ideal guide. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Not sure Exodus are running this trip again ? If you are then tips would be:- - max kg in bike box at LHR T3 is 23kg - cash point machines in local villages often broken - take sun cream Is there anything else you would like to add? Tips for Exodus:- - please issue the maps in electronic form as files for Garmin etc before trip - please issue Email messages from a single e-mail address [easier to find] - please send a single message [rather than in dribs and drabs] with all details as close to booking as you can manage - Please run the trip again !
Reviewed September 2018 Tracey Sheppard Trip: Mont Ventoux Cycling Weekend Ventoux trip Ventoux was a personal challenge for me, and this trip was fantastic. Ventoux was the highlight but the whole area is amazing. Nice hotel in a lovely town (Sault), with great local support. Would love to go back! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Reaching the summit of Ventoux (3 times!) What did you think of your group leader? Excellent. We were a larger group (15) but somehow Yves managed to support us all. He was very knowledgeable, helpful and encouraging. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Remember to pace yourself and don't overdo it early on.
Reviewed September 2018 Michael Navin Trip: Mont Ventoux Cycling Weekend Excellent trip and organisation Well organised and local support was excellent. Hotel was comfortable and provided secure storage for bikes. Fantastic countryside and climbing was tough but as expected Overall can thoroughly recommend What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Getting to have photo at top of Mont Ventoux What did you think of your group leader? Excellent Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't overdo it on 1st day. The following days are tough
Reviewed June 2018 M R Trip: Mont Ventoux Cycling Weekend Fantastic four days of climbing I loved everything about this tour. Our guide, Yves was fantastic (and seemingly everywhere on the mountain for our group of 10 riders). He is also a man of many talents... translator, support car driver and bike mechanic to name a few. The tour is exceptionally organised and allows you to go at your own pace, despite being in a group. I'd recommend itto anyone who wants to challenge themselves who has a good level of fitness. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Making it to the top of Mt Ventoux...twice! Brilliant! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Bring layers - warm gloves, head warmer and jacket for the descent
Reviewed May 2018 Jeff rogers Trip: Mont Ventoux Cycling Weekend Ventoux Cycling Weekend If you like the mountains this is a superb trip with wonderful scenic riding and fantastic views! The Gorge de la Nesque and Le tour route to the summit of the ventoux was a fantastic days riding. Great guide, superb food and cycling to die for!! Thanks to exodos for some special memories!! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Gorge de la Nesque ( Fantastic place} What did you think of your group leader? Outstanding! Nothing else to say Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Train hard at home in the hills before you go to enjoy the most of your trip! That said you don't need to be a tour winner!! Is there anything else you would like to add? Maybe make it an extra day and fit another wonderful days riding in ! just a wonderful area to be on the bike
Reviewed September 2017 Rupert Livingstone Trip: Mont Ventoux Cycling Weekend Ventoux, Ventoux - so good I had to do the trip again I did the trip in 2016 and got my nutrition wrong so walked the last 2k to the summit. I just had to go back to do it properly this year. I was not disappointed as going back made the trip even more enjoyable. The cycling is fantastic and finally cycling all the way to the summit was an emotional and satisfying experience. The trip is changing slightly for 2018 and my only dilemma is whether to go back again to attempt another route. This is a great short break, properly getting away from it all, enjoying some wonderful climbs and descents and basically just enjoying being able to focus solely on cycling. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Personally, being successful in cycling to the summit - a big monkey off my back. As a trip, the beauty of the countryside, the camaraderie of the group and the sheer bliss of cycling provided the inspiration. The descent to Sault is a joy, as is the Gorges de Nesque. What did you think of your group leader? Yves was simply superb. Without him, the trip would not have been as successful. At no point were there any qualms or concerns as Yves managed to cover off any issues before they arose - even diverting to get bananas when the Sault supermarche decided not to open on time. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? If you are reading the review then you are probably serious about the trip so I would use the cliché - just book it. It is a fantastic trip and the satisfaction of reaching the summit more than offsets the pain of the forest. The best advice is the obvious advice. Do some training, get yourself fit, ensure that you have tackled some hills or done some consistent resistance training on a turbo and get your nutrition right. Other than that, enjoy what will be a fantastic and memorable weekend of cycling.
Reviewed May 2017 Robert Lawton Trip: Mont Ventoux Cycling Weekend Mount Ventoux A fantastic well organised trip that was both friendly and professional made special by our guide Thierry. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? We cycled in beautiful weather on quiet roads through some stunning countryside - topped off by achieving the ascent of My Ventoux - the descent wasn't bad either!! What did you think of your group leader? Fantastic - friendly, well informed, patient & professional. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take this trip and enjoy the scenery, food & cycling
Reviewed April 2017 Dylan Bexley Trip: Mont Ventoux Cycling Weekend Mont Ventoux weekender I did this trip with Exodus back in October 2016 and have had it on my to-do list to leave a review ever since so am sorry it has taken so long! To be clear I won this trip, along with 7 others, as part of competition that Exodus were running. That said I do not believe the quality and service would have been any different if I had paid for the trip privately - in short both were top notch. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Having been on a numerous cycling holidays to Europe (all self delivered) I can safely say this was the best by far. The location is truly inspirational given the history and views. The routes the team had planned were fantastic and the base location in Sault is ideal. The Gorge de la Nesque to Bedoin route, before you take on Ventoux, is superb. What did you think of your group leader? Leadership was spot on. Our group had varying degree's of fitness and the leader would always provide clear instructing on turning and meeting points and was always on hand to accept additional clothing or hand out snacks and drinks. He chose some great lunch locations and would arrange a DIY baguette picnic with plenty of fruit and drinks which was perfect. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Mont Ventoux is not to be taken lightly but is a real accomplishment whether you are going for a Strava time or just looking to conquer it. Virtually all of our group felt quite emotional after summiting which is maybe due to the history and the landscape. Is there anything else you would like to add? A great short break that I would absolutely recommend. The scenery in the area is lovely and the riding was far better then I imagined it would be. Far more then just Mont Ventoux. The Exodus team were superb from beginning to end.
Reviewed October 2016 Eric Farnworth Trip: Mont Ventoux Cycling Weekend Mont Ventoux Cycling Weekend A four day trip. Day 1 - flight, transfer to hotel, bike fit, dinner. Day 2 - a glorious 87km ride with as much descent as ascent. Day 3 - Mont Ventoux Day!! 105km, total ascents 2060m. We all made it! Celebratory dinner at hotel. Day 4 - gentler ride (still 75km, 1000m ascent), transfer to Marseille airport for evening flight home. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? We all made it to the summit of Ventoux without seeing the inside of the support vehicle, and without walking a single metre. Some cycled to the top without a stop (and in very impressive times). Some found it gruelling and stopped many times (and at the cafe half way up) to gather breath before re-starting. It didn't matter which category you fell into, it was a challenge to everyone and we each celebrated the achievement of the others as well as our own. What did you think of your group leader? Very French, very charming. Helpful, experienced, professional. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Perhaps drink a little too much alcohol in the evening to deal with those nerves! Is there anything else you would like to add? As to the cycling, it was superb. Of course it's a challenging trip, but as we stayed in the same hotel throughout, the total daily descent was the same as the aggregate climb for the day. The descents were glorious, on good tarmac with little traffic. I whooped with joie de vivre! (Well, it was France.) As to everything else, don't forget that the scenery in Provence is stunning - wooded mountains, dramatic hillsides, ancient churches, fortified towns, lavender fields, village squares with pavement cafes and colour-washed buildings. Good hotel, excellent (and plentiful) food.