The Macmillan Jersey Cycle Challenge is not for the faint hearted. Even though we have had to change from the olive groves of Italy to the sun-kissed fields of central France, there is still plenty along the route to challenge our brave cyclists.
From the gently rolling sunflower-lined roads south of Lyon, to the vineyards, gorges and lavender fields of Provence, this is a diverse challenge full of hilly, scenic cycling – even without an infamous mountain in the middle!
Mont Ventoux (1912m), known for equally good reasons as the ‘giant of Provence’ and ‘windy mountain,’ is one of the most famous climbs in Tour de France history. Its reputation as one of the toughest climbs in the sport is well- founded; the wind and heat on the barren, exposed upper slopes add to the relentlessness of the climb.
While Ventoux is undisputedly the main challenge, there is little flat along the whole route, and it’s the landscapes and variety that round out the experience. You will reach Marseille with an unforgettable sense of achievement.
Our cyclists will leave Lyon on Day 1 and follow the wily Rhone south. This is the flattest terrain they are likely to see so they should make the most of it. 91 miles of rolling forest and hilly landscape is the feature of this first day in the saddle, arriving in Valence by evening.
Day 2 (84 miles) is a mixed bag, with an relatively level ride in the morning before the leg-sapping climb up the gradual Col du Lenel and then the longer Col de Sausse, before we head into Avignon, where I am sure we will be singing the famous ditty all the way down into the city and across that famous ‘Pont’. No doubt everyone will be thinking about tomorrow and that famous climb…
Mont Ventoux needs very little introduction but in case you have not heard of it, it dominates the surrounding landscape and is one of the more famous climbs of the Tour de France since 1951. Its summit is a barren limestone moonscape known for being very windy (hence the name). It is not to be encountered lightly: in 1967 British cycling legend Tom Simpson died on the Ventoux and his memorial is a mecca for cycling fans from all over the world.
Above the tree line the temperature can shoot up by as much as 10 degrees and you start to really feel the wind in your hair. Day 3 (67 miles) ends with a gentler descent to the Sault River and a gentle ride through the Gorges de la Nesque for our overnight stop.
The final day (68 miles) takes us south to the coast and Marseilles and journey’s end. We will climb out of the Durance valley and head into the beautiful vineyards, lavender fields, cherry trees, and olive groves of the Luberon in central Provence.
Click here to view the Macmillan Jersey Cycle Challenge page
