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Gran Fondo · Race Guide

Colnago GF Mont Ventoux

A single-climb mountain gran fondo built around Mont Ventoux, combining rolling Provence roads with a decisive summit finish via the Bédoin side.

Register early, save energy for the final ascent, and carry layers for the exposed summit and descent.

Best for

  • ✓Experienced climbers
  • ✓Riders chasing a famous summit finish
  • ✓Strong club riders comfortable pacing one decisive climb
  • ✓Riders wanting a shorter alternative to a multi-day Alpine trip
  • ✓Gravel riders wanting a non-competitive event option

Watch out for

  • !Early sell-out entry
  • !Mistral wind on exposed upper slopes
  • !Fast technical descent
  • !Limited accommodation in Vaison-la-Romaine
  • !Valley heat contrasted with summit cold

D-Score™

D4

Epic

Entry

First-come online registration with tiered pricing

or Saturday untimed gravel routes

Route

135 km

3,200 m climbing

Terrain

Mountain

Smooth tarmac on road routes; mixed gravel and dirt on Saturday routes

Month

June

Annual event; exact date varies by edition

Temperature

Approximately 10-28 °C depending on conditions

Valley to summit

Roads / Format

Summit road closed on race day; valley sections use rolling time-boxed closures

Mass start from Vaison-la-Romaine with route-dependent course splits

Participants

4,500 cap across road events

Per edition

GPX

Download

Route files

View Provence tours
Official race website Vaison Ventoux Provence Tourism

Derailleur verdict

A prestigious one-climb mountain test where pacing, gearing and wind management matter more than raw distance.

Best for

  • •Experienced climbers
  • •Riders chasing a famous summit finish
  • •Strong club riders comfortable pacing one decisive climb
  • •Riders wanting a shorter alternative to a multi-day Alpine trip
  • •Gravel riders wanting a non-competitive event option

Not ideal for

  • •Riders uncomfortable with long sustained climbs
  • •Riders who dislike exposed high-speed descents
  • •Anyone relying on last-minute entry or accommodation

Entry

Entry options

Main MethodFirst-come online registration with tiered pricing
Lottery oddsNone
Entry difficultyHigh in practice because the event sells out
AlternativesSaturday untimed gravel routes · Waitlist for cancellations
Guaranteed entryNo guaranteed route once sold out
RegistrationRegister through the official event platform; licence or medical certificate required for timed classification

Register when the next edition opens rather than waiting; confirm medical or licence requirements before payment.

Tours and packages

No Colnago GF Mont Ventoux-specific tours listed yet

Explore Provence cycling tours and providers, or get notified when race packages are added.

View Provence tours

View providers (Coming soon)

Get notified (Coming soon)

Route difficulty and ride feel

Route options

RouteDistanceClimbingD-Score
Piccolofondo80 km2,135 mD2
Mediofondo106 km2,600 mD3
Granfondo135 km3,200 mD4
Gravel Mid78 km1,610 mD2
Gravel Grande Escapade105 km2,000 mD3

Key demands

SurfaceSmooth tarmac on road routes; mixed gravel and dirt on Saturday routes
Road tatusSummit road closed on race day; valley sections use rolling time-boxed closures
Main challengeA long high-altitude Ventoux climb with a shadeless exposed final third
Descending riskHigh — fast exposed descent with speeds above 80 km/h possible
Traffic exposureLimited on marshalled valley roads outside closure windows
Bunch densityHigh at the valley start, thinning on the climb

Rolling valley roads lead into one sustained ascent. The final kilometres above Chalet Reynard are exposed, windy and climatically different from the valley.

Route, climbs and pro-race roads

Several climbs on this route appear in Giro d'Italia history. The full route includes seven major passes.

ClimbLengthAvg gradientWhy it matters
Mont Ventoux via Bédoin21 km7.5 %Classic and hardest Ventoux ascent used by the Granfondo, with exposed upper slopes.
Mont Ventoux via Sault25.7 km4.8 %Longer and gentler ascent used by the shorter road routes.
Col de l’Homme Mort11.6 km4.4 %Mid-route climbing feature on the Sault approach that adds fatigue before Ventoux.

Gearing & fuelling tools

Every rider has unique gearing and nutrition needs. Below are tools we find useful for working these out before race day.

Planning and logistics

Nearest airports

Avignon · Marseille Provence

Car hire

Recommended because public transport around the event is limited

Book ahead

Book early; official accommodation listings are limited

Base in Vaison-la-Romaine for the race village, starts and bib pickup; check surrounding villages for hotels and gîtes.

Weather and mountain conditions

Strong mistral winds and a large valley-to-summit temperature difference can transform the ride quickly.

Valley temperature20-28 °C typical
Summit temperatureAround 10-15 °C cooler than the valley, often windy
Rain / stormsPossible, especially above Chalet Reynard
Weather changesSudden between valley and summit
Surface conditionsSmooth road tarmac; variable gravel and dirt on Saturday routes
Main riskMistral gusts on the exposed summit and descent plus valley heat

What to consider packing

  • Lightweight gilet or packable jacket
  • Sun protection
  • Gloves for the descent
  • Extra hydration
  • Gravel spares for Saturday routes

Event feel

Event size

Large capped event with 4,500 road places

Field level

Strong and experienced

Atmosphere

Prestigious regional French event centred on Mont Ventoux

International mix

Primarily French and European; exact mix needs verification

Bunch intensity

High early, spreading out before the final climb

First-timer

Start with the Piccolofondo or Mediofondo before attempting the Bédoin-side Granfondo.

Training profile

You should be comfortable with

  • Comfortable with 90-120 minute climbs
  • Confident descending at speed
  • Able to manage heat, wind and cold in one ride
  • Consistent long-day fuelling

Preparation priorities

1

Sustained climbing power

Build the ability to hold a steady effort for the long Bédoin or Sault ascent.

2

Heat and wind management

Prepare for valley heat followed by strong, cooler summit winds.

3

Descending confidence

Practise long, fast descents and controlled braking at high speed.

4

Pacing discipline

Save energy on the valley roads for the decisive final climb.

5

Nutrition planning

Plan intake around the climb and the spacing of feed stations.