‘ They’ re all scared. Everybody’ s afraid’ – Eddy Merckx
‘ Nothing compares to the Ventoux’ – Lance Armstrong
' Heart-stirring and jaw-dropping in equal measure' – Tim Moore
' A really excellent book' – Richard Williams
The French call Ventoux ‘ the killer mountain’ and in 1967 it claimed its most famous victim, as former world champion Tom Simpson died near the summit during that year’ s Tour de France. The terrible ascent of Ventoux’ s south side encapsulates both the brutality and beauty of this cruel sport, but also highlights cycling’ s ongoing battle to distance itself from its demons.
Yet it was the legendary and extreme climb of Mont Ventoux that first inspired award-winning author Jeremy Whittle’ s love of cycling, so much so that he bought a house in its shadows. Ventoux is his memoir to the Giant of Provence in which he reveals the little-known history of the Ventoux, and tells the story of a monstrous climb that has driven riders to near-hysteria and also to wild extremes of doping. It has provided the spectacular backdrop to some of cycling’ s most titanic contests, exposing the true character of those who take on the challenge.
Through a series of revealing conversations with Lance Armstrong, Dave Brailsford, Alastair Campbell, Nicole Cooke, Tyler Hamilton, Eddy Merckx, Simpson’ s daughter, Joanne, and many others, Whittle details the poignancy of bitter memories, flawed obsessions and ruthless ambition that have made the Ventoux so feared and so infamous.
' A terrific book' – Matt Dickinson
' An intense hit. A must read' – Ned Boulting
? ' Highly recommend Jeremy Whittle' s Ventoux - a fascinating and expert insight into the mountain and into the current state of pro racing' Peter Cossins
