French Alps, France · from Thuet
Plateau de Solaison
Tour de France 2026 · Stage 15 →Solaison from Thuet is one of the hardest climbs in Haute-Savoie: the gradient flirts with 10% almost from the first metre, on a narrow balcony road carved into the cliffs above the Arve. Past the village of Brison, ramps beyond 11% keep coming until the plateau finally opens at 1,500 m.
Summit elevation: 1508 m
Route sketch
Plateau de Solaison · from Thuet
Schematic road geometry from OpenStreetMap routing; use it to see the shape of the climb, not for navigation.
How fast would you climb Plateau de Solaison?
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).
Plateau de Solaison and the Tour
Long a hidden local test piece and a Critérium du Dauphiné discovery, Solaison remained off the Tour's map — the road simply seemed too narrow and too steep — until the 2026 route gave it a stage finish.
Stage 15 of the 2026 Tour brings the race's first-ever finish on the plateau, on 19 July. On paper it is the steepest sustained summit finish of the entire route.
Won the 2017 Critérium du Dauphiné final stage at Plateau de Solaison and overturned the race overall.
Riding it yourself
When to go
Rideable May to October. The balcony section is south-west facing and can be brutally hot on summer afternoons; the narrow road rewards quiet weekday mornings.
Base & logistics
Bonneville in the Arve valley is the base, with Thuet a couple of kilometres upstream. Compact gearing is non-negotiable. The plateau is a dead end — descend the same road, carefully.
FAQ
How long is the Plateau de Solaison climb?
From Thuet, the climb is about 11.8 km with roughly 1024 m of elevation gain at 8.7% 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 Plateau de Solaison?
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 Plateau de Solaison?
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 43 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.