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Today's itinerary
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Buffet breakfast at our hotel.
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Mt Ventoux is the highest mountain in Provence and has been dominating our horizon all week. Today, those masochist among us can take on the challenge of climbing the mountain. It is not for the meek of heart, but we have left it for our final day as a cycling highlight for the week. The summit gives the most spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding countryside imaginable.
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Cyclists can start from the door of our hotel and warm-up for the first few kms before we start the climb 5kms after Bedoin. The climb will take between 2 and 3 hrs to complete with the odd break along the way (there’s a great café at Chalet Reynard). But it’s worth all the effort to be able to brag about the climb the rest of your life.
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Cocktails and final farewells followed by a gala gourmet meal at our hotel.
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Overnight at Hostellerie de Crillon-le-Brave.
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Mont Ventoux
Located near Carpentras, the Mont Ventoux is 25 km long and 15km wide. It overlooks a plain situated at 100 to 300 meters above sea level. The wind can reach 250 km/h, thus the name Ventoux, vent being the French word for wind. During a sunny day on the top of the Ventoux, you’ll discover one of the most wonderful panoramas of Europe. The Mont Ventoux is the highest point of Provence, at 1.912 metres. It is a remarkable natural site with huge varieties of vegetal and animal species. It also has been made a classified "Réserve de Biosphère" site by U.N.E.S.C.O.. The road from Bédoin up to the summit is regularly used by the Tour de France in one of its stages. Near the peak you will pass the Tommy Simpson memorial for the 1960s TDF leader who died making the climb.
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Avignon Bridge, Provence |
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