The road leading to the peak of Mont Ventoux was opened in 1900. This western endpoint of the Alps is one of the most well-known and well-visited places in the Alps by cyclists. The pass is located some hundred metres east of the highest point of the mountain, thus it is a descent to this pass if coming from Malaucène. The starting places for the three asphalted approach roads are usually from three villages. Malaucène (329m) to the west may have the hardest climb to the top, but as some says, perhaps the classic climb from Bédoin (308m) to the south really is the hardest.

The climb from Sault (695m) in the east offers the easiest climb. Both of the climbs from Malaucène and Bédoin has several kilometres of up to 10% inclination on average. The climb from Sault is only steep from where it meets the road from Bédoin (Chalet Reynard 1418m). The climb can often be hard due to windy conditions and/or heat. One is very exposed to the elements at higher altitude on this mountain! I also include an alternative approach from Mormoiron (225m), which might well be used if coming from the south to by-pass Bédoin on the way up.