S13 Ep98: KM0: One Wild Night On Ventoux

A month or so before the Tour de France, Lionel Birnie and Graham Willgoss were discussing ideas for KM0 episodes...

'How about camping on Mont Ventoux?' said Lionel.

'Yes!' said Graham.

And so Lionel packed a tent, airbed and sleeping bag and decided not to book a hotel near the Giant of Provence so there could be no turning back.

After picking up camping equipment for Graham at the Nîmes branch of Decathlon, they set off up the mountain to meet Simon Gill, who was in his camper van. The original plan was to camp in the forest, where other Tour spectators were setting up for the night. However, police restrictions on the crowds and vehicles meant Lionel and Graham could not risk being stuck down the mountain, 10km from the summit, on race day, so they soldier on, past Chalet-Reynard and the shelter of the tree-line and up to the bald, rocky peak.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience – as in something they will not repeat in a hurry. Unforgettable in its own way as they braved the strong winds.

Who knew Ventoux could be windy? Well, the clue is in the name for a start, and remember the last time the Tour was scheduled to finish at the top of the climb, in 2016, when high winds forced the organisers to bring the line down to Chalet-Reynard?

This is the story of Lionel, Graham and Simon's wild night on the mountain.