“Puy de Dome” Details Details (Zwift Climb Portal)
Key Details
- Category: HC
- Length: 12.96 km (8.1 miles)
- Elevation Gain: 913 m (2,995‘)
- Average Gradient: 7%
- Country: France
- Watopia Climb Segment
- Watopia Descent Segment
- France Climb Segment
- France Descent Segment
- 5 W/kg: 37 minutes
- 4 W/kg: 46 minutes
- 3 W/kg: 59 minutes
- 2 W/kg: 86 minutes
Strava Segments
Time Estimates
Returning to the Tour de France in 2023 for the first time in 35 years, the Puy de Dôme is a punishing hors catégorie climb. While not the highest or steepest climb compared to other Tour climbs, the Puy is set apart by the unremitting nature of its gradient in the final 4km as the road twists around the slopes of an extinct volcano.
Fausto Coppi, the first winner on this climb, said it was “harder than Mont Ventoux.” Jacques Goddet, the director who took the Tour up there for the first time in 1952, described it as “literally a backbreaker.”
With the IRL climb restricted apart from special events, we haven’t found a Strava segment that goes to the top like Zwift’s. But here’s one that comes close:
This one is the definition of “sting in the tail.” Lulls you into a false sense of ease thru the first 3/4 of the climb. Then you look at the remaining elevation and distance and realize it’s about to get haaaaaaard. That last 1/4 of the route is punishing and unrelenting. Such a great climb!
Completely agree, I love this climb, minimal easy sections within some segments. Knowing the grade is over 9% the last 3-4 segments really makes you focus on the task at hand. Such a good feeling just grinding at a high tempo gives you a sense of satisfaction when you’re finished.
This is a tough one. It’s nature makes it feel harder than the Tourmalet even though it’s shorter.
What a challenge for a beginner like me
the first 1/10 is steep (moy 9%) but It goes better with a few “faux plat” à 4%
Then after 2/3 of the road, you discover that It remains 2/3 of the elevation
The end change between 12-15%
Magnificent climb