Ventoux legend Poli at Etape training camp

Taking on the Ventoux this summer? Luxury cycling holiday camp specialists La Fuga are offering a pre-Etape training camp with a difference. Eros Poli, the Italian rider who conquered the Giant of Provence during the 1994 Tour, will be on hand to give you the benefit of his knowledge of the mountain.

For many the Ventoux legend is all about tragedy and suffering, but Poli's struggle to tame the mountain is a much more life-affirming tale. Known best as a lead out man for sprint ace Mario Cippolini, Poli was by no means a natural climber which is why the peloton were content to let the big sprinter escape early on the stage from Montpellier back in '94. No-one gave him a chance of making it over the Ventoux ahead of the bunch and he was allowed to gain 20 minutes on the main bunch by the bottom of the climb. Heroically Eros held on to just over a minute of his lead as he topped the mountain and with the finish at the bottom of the descent in Carpentras, his 80kg body turned to his advantage and the stage victory was secure.

Eros is still a popular figure in France, he later rode for the Gan team, and these days drives a vehicle for the Tour de France organisers ASO every year. That means he wonʼt be there when the Etape lands on the Ventoux in July.

Eros will though be joining the La Fuga team on a training camp in Provence this April where heʼll share his knowledge of the mountain, his love of the region and anecdotes from a professional career that spanned the reign of Miguel Indurain right through to the early part of ʻThe Armstrong Yearsʼ.

To find out more about La Fuga and their training camp in Provence go to lafuga.cc or call the team at La Fuga on 0208 144 144 1 or + 44 208 144 144 1from outside the UK.