French Alps, France · from Pont du Fossé
Orcières-Merlette
Tour de France 2026 · Stage 18 →Orcières-Merlette climbs out of the Champsaur valley to a sunny ski balcony at 1,825 m: a gentle valley opening from Pont-du-Fossé, then the sharper official Tour climb from Orcières village to the resort. It is a climb where a strong rider can commit fully from the bottom — which is precisely what made its history.
Summit elevation: 1825 m
How fast would you climb Orcières-Merlette?
Enter your power and weight. A physics engine calculates your estimated time against the gradient profile.
Predict your
performance.
See how power and weight affect your time on a real climb.
*Demo simulation uses standard road bike physics (CdA 0.32, Crr 0.004).
Orcières-Merlette and the Tour
In 1971 Luis Ocaña attacked from distance and arrived at Orcières-Merlette almost nine minutes ahead of Eddy Merckx — one of the greatest single-day exploits in Tour history, commemorated at the resort.
The Tour returned in 2020, when Primož Roglič won the stage 4 summit finish. Stage 18 of the 2026 route opens the Alpine finale here before the double Alpe d'Huez weekend.
Richard Carapaz attacked from the breakaway 3.5 km below Orcières-Merlette and won alone at the summit.
Produced his legendary 1971 raid to Orcières-Merlette, putting almost nine minutes into Eddy Merckx.
Riding it yourself
When to go
Open May to October; the climb faces south and gets long sun — carry water, as the Champsaur can be surprisingly hot in July.
Base & logistics
Pont du Fossé or Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur make good bases, with Gap 30 minutes away. Pair it with the Col de Manse or Col du Noyer for a Champsaur circuit.
FAQ
How long is the Orcières-Merlette climb?
From Pont du Fossé, the climb is about 15.2 km with roughly 729 m of elevation gain at 4.8% average gradient (based on the simplified profile used by this simulator; published figures vary slightly by source).
How long does it take to cycle up Orcières-Merlette?
It depends almost entirely on your power-to-weight ratio. Use the simulator on this page: enter your FTP and weight, and a physics model (air resistance, rolling resistance, gravity) estimates your time on the gradient profile.
How accurate is the time simulation?
The simulator uses a simplified segment profile and standard road bike assumptions (CdA 0.32, Crr 0.004, 8 kg bike). It does not model wind, drafting, altitude, surface or pacing errors, so treat the result as a realistic estimate, not a guarantee.
How should I train for Orcières-Merlette?
Sustained climbs reward steady threshold and sweet spot work plus a power-to-weight improvement over weeks, not days. TrainCraft builds structured cycling training plans and adapts them when you miss sessions, using fatigue science (CTL/ATL/TSB).
More famous climbs
Preparing for this climb?
A climb like this is won weeks in advance. TrainCraft builds a structured plan around your FTP and available hours, and adapts it when you miss a workout.
Start Training FreeThe profile is simplified into 52 segments for simulation; real gradients vary metre by metre. Stats shown are derived from this simulated profile and closely match commonly published figures. Time estimates assume standard road bike physics and no wind.
Training for a climb like this?
TrainCraft builds structured training plans and adapts them when life gets in the way — real fatigue science (CTL/ATL/TSB), visual workout builder, Strava & Garmin sync. Free to start.