Trip to Ventoux, June 2022 (by Fran Blake)

I attended a truly entertaining one-man theatrical show recently given by Ned Boulting (ITV’s humorous and talented Tour de France commentator). When asked what his favourite mountain was, he replied, without hesitation, Mont Ventoux. I could not agree more!

In June 2022 a group of 15 Club members travelled out to Bedouin at the foot of Mont Ventoux, to enjoy the spectacular riding and scenery that comes with a trip to this beautiful region of France. F lights were to Marseilles, with a transfer of just over an hour to Bedouin. During the week we explored together, finding some fantastic riding and views, with stops for coffees, lunch and the occasional sip of French wine, or even the odd French beer. Accommodation was over three different houses and relatively easy to find and of excellent quality and comfort.

Mont Ventoux can be climbed from 3 different sides, each side boasting an attractive base village to start your ascent, or refuel. The trip was not just about that mountain which stands at 1912 metres, but a few of us had chosen to accept the challenge of the ‘Club de Cingles du Mont Ventoux’ (literally ‘the Crazy Club’) and to ride the three ascents in one day.

On the perfect day for this ride, with sunshine forecast and no breeze, our happy collection of crazy SDV members completed the challenge and made it into this exclusive online club. This is no mean feat! It certainly wasn’t completed just for the cycling jersey, but for the satisfaction and thrill this kind of challenge gives you.

Having never seen Mont Ventoux before, the sight of it up close on the first climb of the day, as dawn was breaking, was truly stunning. The same cannot be said, perhaps, of the third time I saw that summit the same day! I will never forget the final descent and job done!

Congratulations to the riders who achieved this goal:- Malcolm Legg, John Rowlands, David Samuels, John Crawley, Neil Dawtrey, Julie Cammack. Fiona Broome, Kate McNicol and Fran Blake.

If you’re interested in finding out more about this trip, please find me on a ride, or speak to one of the other Club members about this year’s ride.