oh dear - 150mins - which is (yes) 2hrs 30mins. In my defence, i only popped out (on Zwift) for a pint of milk, thinking I'd cruise round France for 30mins, but then i saw Le Ventoux and i got summit fever. Totally unprepared, no food, ran out of water - BUT - i'll feel good next time when i go faster (fingers crossed).

Races up this the first time and expected to do it in about an hour (rookie error). After that I just hung in there. It was so tough the first time that it took me a couple of months to build up the courage to do it again but did it and learned from my mistakes. Tough but if you have a couple of hours and fancy a challenge then the buzz from doing it is great

Good video, like the presenting style 👌🏻

Did the climb on Saturday with a KICKR Bike configured as 50/34, 11 spd, 11-32T (and Zwift difficulty set at 100%). Completed the "Ven-Top" route in 86 min 44 sec (with a time of 81 min 49 sec for the "Mont Ventoux KOM"). For some reason I really like these long hard climbs on Zwift. Hope there are more in the future.

Rode the Zwift version yesterday, the real thing 2 years ago. Thought the zwift version was more difficult to be honest, maybe because it’s more boring. Real thing was more uncomfortable (damn flies in the forest, no shade on upper part, wind...). I passed the time giving the new features names (sir Wattsalots castle, the tunnel of pain, the river of misery...). All in all a fine effort by zwift, less so by me...

OK- good video. I just had to search this because I just did the climb on Zwift at 2 hrs and 44 seconds. was on a group ride for an hr and decided to keep going to the top- that's a tough one!

Thanks for this very helpful description. I plan to take this on next time France is an option. I'll report back! Although it is a long slog, from your sped-up screen shots, it looks like the slope is fairly constant - which in my mind is a plus. As I have my trainer set at 100% difficulty, I find it more of a chore when gradient is constantly changing, because of the frequent clunky gear changes.

1:16:06 on the Tron bike, done it 11 time so far 😳 (63 YO, 3.8w/kg average)

I did it in 1:51:00, first time virtual or real, looking forward to do it real someday.

1:36.09 back in the summer on zwift, 1:47.24 in April in RGT up the other side. Never been near it in real life.

I just vEverested on Ven-Top - a total of 17 hours, 27 minutes and 57 seconds. Avg 143 watts across the day. I would love to try it IRL (one ascent only, please).

I did it in Thursday

Took me 2hrs 38 mins in a very low gear. I was intending to stop at Chalet Rénard, but got summit fever after that. I saved my knees though. Problem was I had over 35 short Wi-Fi dropouts which killed a lot of momentum on the steeper gradients and did nothing for the morale!

SST workout is a good hack to get the pacing right.

92 mins @ 3.2 w/kg avg using a P5 TT bike with 808s, exactly the wrong Zwift bike for going uphill.

Lol, i keep doing the Alp till i get them wheels then i'll give this one a go. Done the real thing about 7 times. No not in one day :P My best irl was 1 hour 38. And after the second time you do see lots of recognisable points of reference along the road during the long forrest section. For me personally it's all about getting to chalet Reinard that's hard. As soon as i get there i know i'll make it even tough it's still a pretty long way. I can't wait to compare the zwift version as soon as i get those lightweights (all probably give up on them after a few more goes 🤪)

Good analysis. I've ridden both (virtual and actual) and the representation is pretty good. I wish they had a bit more of the forest in the first half. I have no recollection of my time in actual reality, we climbed it twice from two locations that hot day in August

I did it on Sunday as part of the 3rd stage of the Zwift TdF etape. 70 minutes 28 seconds for the climb. That was averaging 315 watts / about 4w/kg. Went into that with a lot of fatigue in my legs but I’m not sure that made all that much of a difference to my time - I think I might be able to do 4.2w/kg average if I’m more fresh, but I reckon that’s my current limit. I think Zwift have done a decent job replicating the climb. I’m very happy they can’t replicate the wind!

real life from Bedouin: 1h35 min in 2019.

Do you have to reach a certain level in zwift to unlock this climb like you do with Alpe du Zwift?

Did it last night 1:28:55 very happy with the time

What’s the best way to remove a stripped allen head, will I need to by the extraction kit

Speaking of real road feel, do you adjust the Zwift 'difficulty' setting to obtain a more realistic climbing feel? or have you messed around with that at all?

It's absolutely grueling. Not in difficulty but the length of it. Right about where you would have finished the Alpe, you have another 4 miles and almost 2000 feet to go. I am an average rider. On my way up I noticed that there ARE NOT a lot of average riders going up that road. I'm a solid Cat C rider in Zwift races. I've done the Alp du Zwift in 1:26. It took me 2:38. I wasn't going hard because I didn't know what to expect and didn't want to die part way up. I still almost gave up before 2 hours. But I have an issue with not finishing. Next time I'll hit it harder.

77 and change. While I climb the Alpe almost daily as my standard workout, this one is just a little too spicy to serve the same purpose. Nice addition, though; I approve.

I’ve only done it twice my quickest been 78 mins but I think I prefer it over alpe de Zwift those hairpins seem to do my head 1 hairpin 2 hairpin and so on but on ven top I just count down the height in metres it seems to pass bit more quickly

Done it once in Zwift, glad I did but won’t be doing it again

2:11 in real life. super nice climb

Did this today for the first time in 2hrs 1 min (I’m a middle grade C cat rider). Top tip - don’t mentally compare it to the Alpe as when you hit 3000 feet and you have another 2000 to go, you’ll feel awful!

If imwant to do it with a tacx boost with resistance must I put it 3 or 4

1:37:32 warmed up on alpe du zwift first.

Import a route from Strava is the most important update that never comes! Anyway to do it? Anyone knows?

1:43 two days before...

Have done it three times, and will do fourth on Thursday with a group (The Ascenders). It's a pretty boring ascent, but worth doing just to tick it off. Alpe de Zwift is much more interesting.

This is a great video for falling asleep to

1hr 53min. Wasn't killing myself to get a good time though. It's a brute of a climb though with lots over 9%.

You climb before segment starts so don’t overdo it until you see the segment line on Zwift, the middle bit is the steepest but it’s steady all the way and not that hard. Remember that IRL, the summit is cold and oxygen is scarce, relish the virtual comfort.

1hr 18min - around 3.7 wpk.

1:56.03 at 97kg

1:27:28 first time up it. 59 yrs old

1:31

1st time for a 62 yr old, 1hr 59 min

Do you at least get a shot at a special bike or wheels when you finish?! Jeeez, thats a stout one!

Much prefer the real video type software which with a smart trainer and turborocks gives a much better experience

Did the segment Mont Ventoux KOM today on 58:17 average 5,05 w/KG. Thanks for the help with tips from this vidioe :)

What to expect....climbing...relentless climbing...1:23...3.5 w/kg...there is about 2 seconds of negative grade...2 seconds

Zwift have dumbed down the climb, just as they did with the Alpe. I went up yesterday at 226W for a time of 1hr 37. Last October, I went up the real climb from Bedoin, averaged around 260-270W and posted a time of 1hr 40. Go figure...

1:22:25

74 mins for me. Killed me.

2 hours