22 July 1951 Tour de France visits Mont Ventoux for the very first time

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.