The Cinglé Challenge
Highlights
- Become a member of The Mont Ventoux Crazy Gang – literally!
- Climb the mountain from the 3 different sides, Malaucene, Bedoin and Sault – in the same day!
- Fully supported by the Cinglé Challenge experts.
- Airport transfers from Marseille airport included.
- No need to worry about drinks and nutrition
Introduction
This is the traditional Mont Ventoux challenge. To become a member of the Cinglés Club you need to climb the mountain by the 3 traditional ways from Bedoin, Malaucene and Sault all in one day!
Registrations can be done online at the official Cinglé website by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.
Once you have had your card stamped in the 3 villages and on the summit send this back to the Cinglés organiser Monsieur Pic and you will receive a certificate and become a member of the club a short time later..
Dates
We have two fixed long weekends in June 2024 when we will be running a fully supported Cinglé day.
You can join for a 3 or 4 day trip.
Thursday 13th June to Monday 17th June
Thursday 20th June to Monday 24th June
Thursday 11th July to Monday 15th July
Thursday 18th July to Monday 22nd July
We are also flexible from late May to early September if you want to come and stay with us on a 3 or 4 day long weekend or mid-week mini break.
If the above dates don’t suit you please enquire about a custom tour. The optimum dates for The Cinglé are between mid-May and the end of September.
Cost
From £595.00 per person for 3 days and £695.00 for 4 days.
Single Occupancy Supplement £55.00 per night
What's included
- 3 or 4 nights bed and breakfast.
- 2 evening meals.
- Return transfer from Marseille airport or Avignon TGV.
- Fully supported day on Ventoux to attempt the Cinglé Challenge.
- Your official Cinglé Card
- GPX file for your GPS device.
- Energy products, snacks and drinks during the day,
- Mechanical assistance if needed.
- A lift home! Even if it’s 10pm.
Not included
- Flights.
- Insurance.
- Lunches during the day
Itinerary
Day 1: Travel day / short ride
A transfer from Marseille airport (1h 30m) is included and we’ll be doing a morning and afternoon transfer.
If you arrive in the morning we can assemble the bikes and you’ll will get the chance to do a leg stretcher ride of 45km to the perched village of Brantes with magnificent views of the north face of Ventoux.
Dinner tonight will be a group BBQ at the Veloventoux house.
Day 2: The Cinglé Challenge
Based just north of Ventoux we ride the Malaucene side first and you have two options.
Option 1:
A short transfer of 15 minutes in the vehicle to Malaucene to start the Cinglé – Total distance 135km Total height gained 4381m
Option 2: Ride from the Vélo Ventoux accommodation in Puymeras. Total distance 161km Total height gained 5000m
Day 3: Tour du Ventoux
The Vélo Ventoux signature ride, 112km with 1400m of ascent.
The Tour du Ventoux ride goes full circle, anti-clockwise around the base of Mont Ventoux via the stunning Gorge de la Nesque and the Toulourenc Valley.
We’ll have a quick coffee stop in Villes sur Auzone before ascending the Gorge de la Nesque to Sault for lunch.
Day 4: The 3 Cols Ride
For those on the 4 day tour we’ll take you on our classic 3-Cols ride.
The Col de Propiac straight from the front door (6.2km at and avaerage of 3.4%)
Then the Col d’Ey (5.3km at 6%)
The Col de la Croix Rouge (6.5km at 4.2%)
65km in total with 1200m of ascent.
Highlights include the views, both north and south from the Col d’Ey.
Day 4/5: Departure Day
Transfer back to Marseille airport with tired legs and big smiles. Transfer time is approximately 1h30m.
Tour Map
The Cinglé FAQs
Obviously this is relative to your fitness but a super quick time is sub 7 hours, a slow time would be 12 – 13 hours with the average being between 9 and 10 hours.
We like to say 3 hours for one ascent + descent + short break + 1 hour for lunch, photos, comfort breaks etc = 10 hours.
If you’re riding from the Veloventoux house do the Malaucene side first, the Bedoin ascent second and the Sault side last. Then descend to Malaucene at the end of the day – then you’re only 13km from home.
From the official organiser Christian Pic via the online registration here:
http://www.clubcinglesventoux.org/en/inscriptions.html
Cards cost 25€
Any cafe or bar will have a stamp but preferably use the bike shop Bedoin Location on the roundabout in Bedoin. DO NOT GO TO THE BIKE SHOP ROUTES DU VENTOUX which is adjacent to the start line of the climb.
In Malaucene the bike clothing shop Ventoux Finisher or the bike shop Ventoux bikes. If the bikes shops are closed any cafe or bar will be ok.
In Sault use the toursit office or again, any bar or restaurant.
On the summit you can either go in the gift shop of the cafe. ONLY GET ONE SUMMIT STAMP.
If the gift shop and cafe on the summit are closed a photo of you by the summit sign will suffice.
Bedoin edges it over the Malaucene ascent – BUT – if you do Bedoin first Malaucene will feel harder and vice versa.
Sault is much easier so save this until last.
Last week in May through June then last week in August through September.
Early October can also be good but mornings are cold and daylight hours less than than in summer.
In early May there’s a chance that the Malaucene side can still be closed due to snow.
Obviously this varies throughout the season. A good rule of thumb is that it will be 10° lower on the summit than in one of the start villages.
If it’s 15 degrees in Bedoin it will be roughly 5 degrees on the summit – throw in a bit of windchill and it will feel very cold.
In summer it could be 30 degrees in Bedoin so 20 degrees on the summit – very pleasant.
See above.
If it’s 5 degrees and windy on the summit you’ll need a good quality top layer, long finger gloves and leg warmers.
In summer, if it’s high 20’s to 30’s at the bottom just a gilet will suffice for the first part of the descent.
We’ll advise on this on a day to day basis when you’re here.
A compact chainset with a 27 rear sprocket is usally the minimum gear required but this varies from rider to rider.
Lightweight natural climbers, racers and experienced club riders: 34 compact – 25 or 23 rear sprocket usually enough.
Average club, group riders and sportive riders: 34 compact – 27 or 25 rear sprocket.
Bigger build weekend warriors: 34 compact – 30 rear sprocket minimum.
Miles miles miles and hills hills hills. It’s impossible to get the experience of a climb such as The Ventoux in the UK.
Prior to arrival here make sure you’re comfortable with a hilly 100 mile ride somewhere like the Peak District, Wales or The Lakes.
Sportives like the Fred Whitton and The Dragon Ride are ideal training and a good gauge on how you will do.
Aproximately 9 out of 10 Veloventoux guests who try The Cinglé complete it. So 90%
There are water fountains in each of the 3 villages.
Then on the mountain there’s a tap in the toilets at Chalet Reynard.
There’s no water between Sault and Chalet Reynard (20km) and no water on the Malaucene ascent unless you purchase some from the Cafe at Mont Serein.
You can buy water and coke from the gift shop on the summit if it is open.
Of course, if you’re on a supported ride with us you will not have to worry about fluid intake as the van will always be close to you with water and energy drink.
Take your own preferred gels and energy bars. Roughly what you’d take on a 100 mile UK sportive.
Extra energy products can be purchased from the bike shops in Bedoin and Malaucene.
For a proper lunch stop, if the weather permits, stop at Chalet Reynard for food on the way down to Sault before the third ascent.
If it’s cold go all the way down to sault for food.
On a Vélo Ventoux supported ride we’ll have mini sandwiches and race food and cerial bars.
It can be hot but rarely too hot. In July and August you have plenty of daylight to complete the challenge so an early start is advisable. Starting at 5am will enable you to get two ascents done in the morning before the midday heat. You can then have a relaxing lunch before the last ascent from Sault later in the afternoon.
Of course we will.