*Nairo Quintana wins at Mont Ventoux Chalet Reynard on today's stage 3 of Tour de la Provence, setting a new fastest ever time for the 9.5km climb*

Nairo Quintana’s attacking ride up the Mont Ventoux climb today to win stage 3 of the Tour de la Provence appears to have set a new record for the ascent.

Today’s climb “only” went up as far as Chalet Reynard, making
for an ascent of 9.5km.

It’s only after the location of today’s finish line that the tree line gives way to the lunar-like scenery we so closely associate with this mountain, which climbs a further 5km.

However, today’s climb was still very challenging; the 9.5km at an average gradient of 9.2 per cent.

The previous record for the climb was set by Marco
Pantani, who rode 28:20 on stage 15 of the 1994 Tour de France; the same stage
when also all of the fastest times were set.

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Indeed, Quintana’s time today of 28:05 – some 15 seconds faster than Pantani's – is the only time in the top 16 that wasn’t set at the Tour de France.

The time today was aided by the fact Quintana’s team, Arkéa-Samsic,
set a blistering pace for him on the early slopes.

Quintana then attacked early – with 7km remaining - and
rode the vast majority of the climb on his own, meaning he could really go to
work.

Because he was solo he did not have to engage in any tactical battles with other riders and he also had a tailwind today, averaging 6.8 watts per kg.