Mont Ventoux made its historic debut in the Tour de France during the 17th stage of the 1951 edition.
The stage spanned an arduous 221 kilometers, tracing a challenging route from Montpellier to Avignon
This inaugural appearance of Mont Ventoux was dominated by Frenchman Louison Bobet, a rising star in professional cycling who would later solidify his place as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Although the 1951 stage did not culminate at the summit of Mont Ventoux, it laid the groundwork for the mountain’s storied role in future editions of the Tour.