Massif Central, France · from Clermont-Ferrand
Puy de Dôme
The Puy de Dôme rises straight out of Clermont-Ferrand as a perfect volcanic cone, its road spiralling around the mountain with a merciless final 4 km near 12%. It is one of cycling's mythical summits — and today one of its least accessible.
Summit elevation: 1415 m
How fast would you climb Puy de Dôme?
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).
Puy de Dôme and the Tour
The Puy de Dôme staged some of the Tour's most famous scenes: the shoulder-to-shoulder duel between Anquetil and Poulidor in 1964, and Eddy Merckx being punched by a spectator here in 1975.
After a 35-year absence the Tour returned in 2023, with Michael Woods winning atop the volcano. The spiral summit road is so narrow that spectators were banned from the final kilometres.
Get a km-by-km pacing guideRiding it yourself
When to go
The summit road is closed to bicycles: a rack railway now serves the top, and cycling is only possible on rare organised event days announced by the Panoramique des Dômes.
Base & logistics
You cannot ride the Puy de Dôme on a normal day — plan around official cyclist-access events, or climb the neighbouring Col de Ceyssat road that reaches the volcano's flank. Clermont-Ferrand is the base; use the simulator here to see what the legendary profile would demand.
FAQ
How long is the Puy de Dôme climb?
From Clermont-Ferrand, the climb is about 13.3 km with roughly 1025 m of elevation gain at 7.7% 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 Puy de Dôme?
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 Puy de Dôme?
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 5 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.