Mont-Vent-Paris: How to rack-up some vert around Paris

The Paris region is not known for climbing, but that doesn't mean you can't find it. Generally, most "hilly" routes will only have 100m D+ per 10km at best, which comes from several shorter climbs. While there is no secret route that gives you longer climbs, I was determined to create a route that had 2,000m of climbing in as few kilometers as possible.

The easiest answer to this quest would be to simply find a hill and do it 25 times, but another aspect of my idea was to never repeat the same climb, at least in the same direction. After a lot of trial and error, I was able to follow my made-up rules and get the route down to 150km. While there is still some potential to further optimize it, I think it's a pretty "fun" route.

From the beginning, there is an effort to eke out every meter, starting with a climb up to the Pantheon before heading out of the city through the 15th. The route is kind of funny if you are familiar with the area because you will climb to the top of a hill only to drop back down and climb it again from another road. Nothing about this path is logical for a typical ride, but it is certainly not your average route.

There are a few add-ons and sections that I do not normally ride in the area, including a nice 0.5km climb at 13%, maxing out over 18%. It is always nice to change things up and see new climbs that may make it into your regular rides. It also features most of the notable climbs between Paris and Chevreuse, which you may already be familiar with. Either way, you will get to experience most of the climbs in the region.

I was able to follow my rule of not repeating any climbs, but it does repeat the valley road through Chevreuse several times. This was also by design to give more opportunities to refuel and refill water at the boulangerie in town, which is necessary since it will take 6+ hours unless you are Tadej Pogačar.

I think the most brutal part of the route is the end. As I mentioned, this route snakes back on itself several times, but it is never more evident and annoying than for the last climb. You come through St. Cloud and can literally see your home down in the distance, but you descend and turn right, the opposite direction of Paris. You then head back up Sevres for the last and final climb: "the wall". Often featured in the final stage of the Tour de France as a category 4 climb, it's a short but punchy ascent with an over 10% average grade.

The good news is after that, it is all downhill, and you have successfully ridden 2,000m D+ around Paris! If you are looking for a challenge and want to get some more vertical without hill repeats, give this one a shot.

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