Il Mont Ventoux, also called Monte Calvo (did you know that its first known ascent is attributed to Petrarch in 1336?) is a key appointment for the Tour de France, but yet In its long history, the Grande Boucle has faced the extremely tough Provençal climb only 16 times., 10 of which using the summit as the stage finish. But each time, the Ventoux has made its impact felt on the overall standings and beyond...
Between 15 and 21 kilometers of climbing, with an average gradient of 7,7 percent but peaks that go beyond 20The Ventoux has two characteristics that make it unique, either alternatively or even together: the extremely strong wind and the intense heat. Terribly hot, especially in the final section of the climb, when the asphalt is scorched by the summer sun and transmits all its heat to those passing by. Suffice it to say that the engines of the accompanying vehicles often paid a heavy price as well...
We talk about Mont Ventoux and our memory cannot help but go back to that cursed day in 1967: Tommy Simpson, 29 years old, there is a lot at stake in that stage. He had left for the Tour with the aim of winning it, also because a profitable move from Peugeot was about to materialize (where they wanted to invest in a certain Eddy Merckx) to Ignis, but a great feat was needed. That day, July 13th, it was very hot: at the foot of the climb Simpson felt that his legs were not at their best, but he couldn't back out.
A trio of aces in the 1972 Ventoux climb: from left: Ocañåa, Merckx and PoulidorHeat, alcohol, amphetamines…
He asks his teammates for water: there's none. A companion stops at a bar and takes the only liquid available: a bottle of cognac... Simpson drinks a little, but it will be lethal because immediately afterward... swallows one of the amphetamine tablets he bought the night before for £800The mix has an explosive effect: Simpson begins to zigzag, worn out inside and out. He falls, is put back in the saddle, falls again: he will never get up again (in the opening photo, the monument dedicated to him along the climb, at the spot where he died).
That was the sixth time that Ventoux had been tackled: the first in 1951, the last in 2016 before the current edition. If you look at the history of the Grande Boucle, you will discover that very rarely have pure nobody emerged.For example, in 1958, the first time Ventoux hosted a stage finale, Charly won. GaulIt was a time trial and the Luxembourger lined up his rivals while the elderly home champion Raphael Geminians He was going to win the yellow jersey. However, Gaul would win the Tour, ahead of Vito. Favero (on his Tour debut, in yellow right up to Ventoux) and Geminiani himself.
Merckx's endless hunger
Could Merckx's name be missing? In 1970 the Cannibal took his seventh stage victory (one in the team time trial) and before the end he would take two more.. In the end his advantage over the second, Joop Zoetemelk is 12'41", even reduced given the overwhelming superiority he showed day after day. Two years later, the Frenchman Bernard stood out on Monte Calvo. Thevenet, but it is only a taste of what he will be capable of doing: the symbol of the primacy still belongs to Merckx, who will win by "settling" for 6 partial victories.
Two companies are linked to the name of pantani: the first is indirect, in 1994, when Eros Poli He went on to win in Carpentras after being the first to reach the summit of Ventoux, even though he wasn't exactly a climber. Behind him, Pantani, in the Carrera jersey, attacked from the pack and set a climbing record. Six years later Marco leaves his mark as a specialist, one of the greatest in history, winning at the end of an epic battle with Lance Armstrong. The roll of honor of that Tour, like the other six won by the Texan, also has a slash through the winner's name, but it remains unforgettable in the memories of those fortunate enough to witness it.
Marathon rider for 600 meters…
Last in this gallery of characters is Thomas De Gendt, First in 2016. A victory at the end of one of his proverbial breakaways with which he has built a remarkable career. More than his victory by 2" over his adventure companion pauwels, the incident in which he encountered that day is remembered Chris Froome: the British rider, already yellow jersey, falls one kilometre from the finish line together with Doors e MollemaHis bike is destroyed, time is running out, so are theThe Sky rider improvises as a rider and starts running towards the finish lineLater they give him a support bike, but it's too small, so he gets off and starts running again.
400 meters away is the bike from the team car, but the finish line is already there. The standings say the jersey is lost, goes to compatriot Adam Yachts, but after heated protests, the gap is closed and Froome takes the lead again. Interestingly, Yates (who, however, is not competing at the Tour) now rides for what was Team Sky, not Froome.
