Less famous than Mont Ventoux, which dominates the horizon further east, Montagne de Lure looks a lot like it: a long, wooded ascent followed by a bare, wind-scoured finish, but in near-total quiet.
A long two-part ascent
From Saint-Étienne-les-Orgues, it’s 17.5 km for 1,025 m of elevation gain, averaging 5.8% with sections at 7.8%. The road climbs through forest first, then breaks out of the tree cover for the final kilometres, exposed all the way to the summit.
An hors-catégorie climb
Montagne de Lure is classified beyond category due to its length and cumulative elevation gain, and it has already served as a Paris-Nice stage finish, in 2009 — rare recognition for a col that has long lived in Ventoux’s shadow.
An observatory at the summit
Signal de Lure, the high point at 1,826 m, hosts an astronomical observatory that benefits from remarkably clear skies, far from the light pollution of the region’s larger towns.
How to approach the ride
A wide-range cassette helps cover the 17 km distance, and a packable windbreaker is worth carrying for the summit section, exposed to wind much like Ventoux.
Good to know
Montagne de Lure offers a Provençal giant almost as impressive as Ventoux, but noticeably quieter — a favourite alternative for cyclists looking to avoid the crowds.
