The first few miles from Bedoin are on the paved D974. From there, turn onto a bright white gravel road and ride around the barrier shooing away motorists. No part of the next 20km will be smooth sailing. There will occasionally be a brief section of pavement, but it won't be any better than the dirt. Baseball size chunks of limestone litter the route, and deep sandy grooves come and go. The dirt road, like the paved road, is steep, and the climb is relentless, easing only for the last kilometer before reconnecting with the smooth paved route from Maulucene for the final 5km to the summit. On a hot July day the additional shade afforded by this route, versus Bedoin, was welcome, the "lunar" landscape starting 3km or so from the top on this side The summit was a madhouse, not surprising as the road closes to motorists tomorrow, and a Tour de France stage will finish here on Tuesday. We didn't mill around in the shoulder to shoulder crowd, instead heading down via Maulucene, past the small reservoir lake above town, and back home.