Cycling Mont Ventoux: Malaucène route

Highlights of Mont Ventoux (Malaucène)

The views down into the valley and over the Provençal countryside are far-reaching and magnificent throughout this peaceful ride.

But they’re probably topped by the feeling you get as you view the hairpins and the summit lighthouse as you enter the lunar landscape.

Ventoux rises dramatically above the surrounding Provençal countryside, which is one reason it feels so distinctive. As you approach the upper mountain, the landscape becomes increasingly exposed and conditions can change significantly compared with the roads lower down.

The Mistral is one of Ventoux’s defining challenges. This powerful Provençal wind travels down the Rhône Valley and can affect the mountain throughout the year, so even a clear-looking day does not necessarily mean calm conditions at the summit.

Route notes

1. The easy warm-up: 0-2 kilometres

Roll out through town and to the start of the climb.

2. The long, tough middle: 2-20 kilometres

Almost immediately the gradient is a testing 7-8%.  You climb up through pine forests, but there are frequent fantastic views to take your mind off your legs. The gradients roll between about 2 (but not often and not for long!) and a whopping 11%. This is one of the defining features of the Malaucène side. You get occasional easier sections, but also steep ramps that make it difficult to settle into a consistent pace.

There is a particularly tough 4-kilometre section just below Chalet Liotard (about 10 kilometres in) and another just after it; save some energy!

With such a long climb ahead, pacing matters. Rather than attacking the steeper sections, it can help to break the ascent into manageable sections and concentrate on maintaining an effort you know you can sustain.

3. The glorious end: 20-22 kilometres

Suddenly the summit comes into view, with the hairpins and lighthouse beckoning across the moonscape. The end is in sight (albeit there are a few kilometres of 8% gradient between you and it!)

Seeing the summit doesn’t necessarily make the final kilometres feel short. Ventoux’s exposed upper slopes can add wind to already tired legs, so make sure you have saved something for the final push.

4. Descent

The road down can be hair-raising. The gradient is severe, the road is often wet, there are multiple hairpins and strong gusts of wind.

Conditions higher on Ventoux can be very different from those in Malaucène below, particularly when the Mistral is blowing. Strong gusts are not only a climbing challenge; they can make the descent particularly demanding too.

Take particular care if the road is wet, windy or visibility is poor.

Views like this punctuate the climb up Ventoux from Malaucène

Café stops

About 15 kilometres into the Mont Ventoux climb, about 7 kilometres from the summit, you’ll come to the rustic, superbly located, Chalet Liotard. It has far-reaching views and serves food that gets good reviews. It has both inside and outside seating.

Near Chalet Liotard is the turn-off to Mont Serein. You are unlikely to want to visit if you’re cycling to the summit of Ventoux, but it might be worth knowing about this little mountain station.

In winter, Mont Serein is known for snow sports. In summer, it offers activities such as hiking, horse-riding and family-friendly outdoor activities.

Nearby, the Camping Le Mont Serein is the only campsite towards the top of Mont Ventoux. They should let you fill your water bottle and use the toilets, for a small charge.

Chalet Liotard on Mont Ventoux

Getting there and bike hire

If you’re travelling from London or the south-east of England, travelling by train as an alternative to flying is a good idea. One option is to travel to Paris and continue by high-speed train towards Avignon before making your way into Provence. Always check the latest train routes, timetables and bicycle policies before booking.

Hiring a bike locally can make this journey considerably easier. Travelling through Paris with a full-size bike box can be cumbersome, particularly if your journey involves changing stations, whereas Provence has plenty of experience catering for visiting cyclists looking to hire a road bike.

If you do plan to travel with your own bike, book any required bicycle spaces well in advance and check the operator’s current rules.

Storefront of Provence Cycles

Accommodation

The little town of Malaucène is the starting point for this Malaucène-Ventoux route. You can find our hotel suggestions here.

Some of the outlying villages around Bédoin are also worth considering as bases as they’re quieter and less touristy. For example, Mormoiron and Villes-sur-Auzon are particularly well positioned as they are a good springboard to the Luberon and Gorges de la Nesque, yet remain within easy reach of Bédoin, Malaucène and Sault.

How close you need to stay to Ventoux depends on the kind of trip you’re planning. If the mountain is your main objective on a shorter trip, staying close to Malaucène makes logistics simple. For a six or seven-night Provence cycling holiday, looking slightly further afield can give you much more riding variety.

Mazan is another option worth considering. It keeps you within reach of Ventoux while giving you a useful base for exploring more of Provence. The Luberon can also work well if you want to combine your Ventoux day with quieter riding through the wider region.

The Gorges de la Nesque is particularly worth adding to a longer cycling trip. It follows striking balcony roads through a limestone gorge and offers a gentler climbing experience than Ventoux, with wide roads and expansive views. It is still exposed in places, though, so both heat and wind are worth considering when planning your day.

If you have more time, Provence also offers riding beyond the immediate Ventoux area, including routes through the Luberon and towards the wine country around Châteauneuf-du-Pape. There are also rides towards Pont du Gard, the Roman aqueduct west of Avignon.

Mormoiron also offers an opportunity to explore some of the small independent wine producers found around Ventoux, including wines made using grapes grown on the mountain’s surrounding slopes. This can be a good addition to a longer stay if you want to combine cycling with local food and wine.

Hotel on a quiet street in Malaucène

Tips

Route gradients and conditions

Take a look at our tips for cycling Ventoux.

On this Malaucène-Mont Ventoux route, gradients vary between 2 (rare!) and 12%. This gives you a chance to catch your breath on the (relatively) gentler sections – but the changing gradients can also make it difficult to maintain a steady pace. For some, this terrain makes the Malaucène route easier than Bédoin; others think the more consistent Bédoin route is easier.

The Malaucène route up Ventoux is generally more sheltered from the wind than the Bédoin route. But this can mean sweltering temperatures in summer if there is no breeze. And you still need to come prepared for freezing weather at the summit… Ventoux is massively unpredictable!

Choose the right time of year

Aim for late May through to September for a Ventoux attempt. Earlier in spring, there is a greater risk of winter conditions affecting access to the upper mountain, while snow, cold and strong winds can make riding to the summit unsuitable.

Even within that late-May-to-September window, there are no guarantees. The Mistral can occur throughout the year, so choosing the right day remains just as important as choosing the right month.

Spring Mistral conditions can sometimes persist for several days, whereas in summer the wind can be more localised and shorter-lived. That is another reason to build some flexibility into your itinerary.

Check the wind, not just the weather

Pay particular attention to the wind forecast before attempting Ventoux. Temperature and rain matter, but wind speed on the upper mountain can be the deciding factor.

Check conditions near the summit rather than relying only on the forecast for Malaucène. The roads higher up are much more exposed, and access can be restricted when conditions become unsafe.

Before you ride, check the current access status for the summit and any local road closures. Events, weather and seasonal conditions can all affect access to the top of Mont Ventoux.

Weather station at Mont Ventoux (Malaucène side)

Keep your Ventoux day flexible

If you’re spending several days in Provence, avoid making your Ventoux attempt completely inflexible. Check the forecast during your trip and choose the day with the safest conditions.

If the wind isn’t suitable, use the day for another ride and return to Ventoux when conditions improve. Provence has enough cycling options that changing your plans doesn’t have to mean losing a day on the bike.

Train for a sustained effort

Ventoux is difficult to replicate if you live somewhere without long climbs. Riders from the UK, in particular, may struggle to find a local road that offers anything comparable to the length of the ascent.

If you aren’t already used to sustained climbing, prepare with longer endurance rides, repeated hill efforts or indoor sessions that allow you to maintain climbing intensity for an extended period. The goal isn’t only to cope with the steepest ramps; it’s to still have enough left for the upper mountain after a long period of climbing.

If once up Ventoux isn’t enough of a challenge for you… take a look at our Q&A on the Cinglés du Ventoux: three times up and down in 24 hours!

The Cinglés challenge links all three main road approaches to Mont Ventoux, climbing from Bédoin, Malaucène and Sault in a single day and descending between each ascent. Riders use a card to record their attempt, collecting stamps as they progress, with participating cafés and local shops around the three towns able to provide them.

Cycling up Mont Ventoux

Over to you!

Cycling Mont Ventoux from Malaucène is a memorable challenge. It is quieter than the Bédoin side, but still delivers a serious climb, big views and a dramatic final push to the summit.

Have you ridden it? Let us know in the comments below or drop us a line!

Looking for more Mont Ventoux cycling inspiration? Don’t miss:

• Cycling Mont Ventoux and Provence: your ultimate guide
• Mont Ventoux from Sault: the must-try gravel cycling tour of Ventoux
• 11 best hotels near Mont Ventoux: accommodation for cyclists near Ventoux + Luberon, France
• Club des Cinglés du Ventoux: Q&A with Ben Davies
• 19 essential tips for cycling up Mont Ventoux
• Cycling Mont Ventoux: Bédoin route
• Cycling Mont Ventoux: Sault route
• Cycling in the Alps: an overview of the best Alpine cycling destinations
• 10 iconic Tour de France climbs + tips to ride them

Clare Dewey is a cyclist with a passion for travel. She set up epicroadrides.com in 2018 to help make it easy for cyclists to explore the world by bike. Today her mission is still inspiring cyclists to discover new places on two wheels - and doing what she can to make sure they have the best possible time while they're there. Clare has visited 50+ destinations around the world, many of them by bike.

Want to connect with Clare? Find her over on LinkedIn.