Mont Ventoux - success!

Drove up Mont Ventoux today; 1911 metres high, the 'giant of Provence', a Mecca for cyclists the world over.

Here one of a group of Americans celebrates at the summit. It's about 26 kilometres of continuous climbing, some at 7% or greater. It is steeper over the last kilometre and the last 100 metres is really steep. This was where Chris Froome accelerated away from Quintana to win the Tour de France stage this year.

It is also the place where Tommy Simpson died during the 1967 Tour. A simple plaque marks the spot about a kilometre from the summit

I was amazed at the variety on bikes and people who got to the top. One guy came up on a folding bike like those used in the rush hour in his ordinary shoes! Others were not exactly svelte athletes nor in the first flush of youth. Some of the bikes though were top notch.

Last time we were here Ventoux lived up to its name. It was so windy it was difficult to stand but the skies were clear so the views were great. Today there was no wind, but quite a lot of cloud and mist so distant views were restricted.