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