| Mont Ventoux, (to interpret to English, | | | | optimistic about the Mont Ventoux climb. He |
| "Windy Mountain") is situated in the | | | | had previously said that his lucky number was |
| Provencal Region of the South of France. It | | | | 13 - his daughter had been born on Friday |
| is an awesome sight at 1909 metres above the | | | | 13th, his wife too, and so maybe Friday, |
| sea - it can be seen from almost anywhere in | | | | stage 13 would be lucky for him too. But it |
| Provence. And from the summit, one can enjoy | | | | was not to be. Tom was still suffering with |
| magnificent panoramic views. | | | | the after effects of his stomach upset and |
| | | | collapsed with heat exhaustion from a blazing |
| Mont Ventoux is officially a part of the Alps | | | | 100 degrees in the shade - and there was no |
| but it is often considered separate from the | | | | shade. It was subsequently discovered that he |
| Alps because of the distance between it and | | | | was also cycling on a cocktail of alcohol and |
| the other mountains of the Alps. | | | | amphetamines, the favoured stimulant drug of |
| Nevertheless, on a clear day, one can see | | | | athletes of all kinds at that time. And so, |
| other mountains in the Alps range clearly | | | | the Mont Ventoux, is now famous, as is Tom |
| from the summit of Mont Ventoux. | | | | himself. The Tour de France race of 1967 was |
| | | | won by a Spanish competitor, Julio Jiminez. |
| Mont Ventoux is well know for the Tour de | | | | |
| France cycle race - it has been ascended 13 | | | | There is now a memorial to Tom Simpson at the |
| times by the Tour de France race competitors | | | | very spot where he died on Mont Ventoux, just |
| since 1951. Perhaps because of this, or | | | | 1.5 km from the summit. Literally thousands |
| perhaps just for the sheer challenge, many | | | | of cyclists come to pay their respects each |
| thousands of cyclists climb Mont Ventoux by | | | | year, and many leave their cycle tyres draped |
| bicycle each year. There are three principal | | | | over the memorial in homage to the great Tom |
| routes:- | | | | Simpson! I have seen it many times myself - |
| | | | however, my favoured method of climbing the |
| • The South Route from Bedouin - 21.1 | | | | great mountain is by car or motorcycle! |
| km | | | | |
| | | | But the story of the Mont Ventoux and Tom |
| • The North Route from Malaucene - 20.6 | | | | Simpson does not end there, for in 1997, |
| km | | | | Tom's daughter finished what Tom was unable |
| | | | to do - she ascended the Mont Ventoux by |
| • The East Route from Sault - 19.6 km | | | | bicycle for herself - Bravo My Girl! |
| | | | |
| All three villages at the foot of the Mount | | | | This mountain is indeed a spectacle and a |
| Ventoux are delightful in themselves, and my | | | | very special beauty. During the summer |
| particular favourite is Bedouin. | | | | months, there is nothing nicer that to take a |
| | | | picnic with you to the magical mountain, and |
| It was a tragic year for the Tour de France | | | | enjoy the many walks and trails. And in the |
| in 1967, when Tom Simpson, an English | | | | winter, one can ski or sledge on the majestic |
| competitor, collapsed and died from heart | | | | snowy slopes of Mont Ventoux. As for cycling |
| failure a mere 1.5 km from the top of Mont | | | | the Mont Ventoux, that is something I will |
| Ventoux, at the age of only 29. It was the | | | | leave to the professionals, and to the memory |
| thirteenth stage of that year's race. Tom was | | | | of Tom. Mind you, Tom's daughter, in cycling |
| in 5th position, despite having suffered a | | | | up Mont Ventoux in 1997 is an inspiration in |
| stomach upset in the previous weeks. Tom was | | | | herself! |