Believe it or not, Zwift is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Who would have thought you could make riding the trainer fun? To mark this Zwift-iversary, the team is unveiling the Zwift 2024 Tour of Watopia route. Including an absolute mystery of a fifth stage, slowly arising from the ocean in Watopia.
The Zwift overlords chose the five unique stages of the 2024 Tour of Watopia to celebrate Zwift’s alloy anniversary. Zwift says the route will take riders on “an exhilarating journey through time, experiencing Watopia like never before..” I guess we have till November 12th to see what that cryptic message means… In the meantime, here are the details.
Play the Hits
Think of the 2024 Tour of Watopia as a greatest hits tour, with some surprise new jams added at the end. The first four stages include the greatest hits of fan-favorite routes from the last decade. This “best of” will allow Zwifters to rediscover some of the most beloved courses Watopia offers.
The Fifth Stage Remains a Mystery
Yep — we don’t even know what the fifth stage is about – you know we’d tell too, because we’re terrible at keeping secrets.
All will be revealed on Tuesday, November 12th. If you’re extra curious, you can peek at the new island… which is currently rising slowly from the ocean…
Ride or Run to Double XP Points
Each stage will be open to runners and riders, with cyclists able to tackle three different distances (short, standard, and long) and runners choosing between standard and long-distance options.
Zwifters who participate in scheduled group events (every hour, on the hour) between Tuesday, October 15th, and Tuesday, November 18th, will be rewarded with double XP (experience points). Double XP means buying more items from the drop shop, unlocking new parts of Watopia, and unlocking unique kits.
Now On Demand
After its successful introduction last year, riders can now experience stages on demand and earn 1.5 XP for doing so. Everyone who takes part in the tour will also have the opportunity to unlock new, limited-edition products.
Zwift 2024 Tour of Watopia – Stage Breakdown
Stage 1 – launching Tuesday, October 15th (with live events available between 15-21 Oct): Downtown to Volcano via Epic
All three cycling options start in downtown Watopia. Then the route follows the undulating Whole Lotta Lava (short), Figure 8 (standard), and Watopia Mountain (long) routes.
Key landmarks in Figure 8 include; the Hilly KOM (0.9km at 5.5%) and Hilly KOM Reverse (2.4km at 2%). These climbs date back to April 2015, making them the oldest climbs on Zwift. The JWB sprint is also featured in Figure 8 and Watopia Mountain routes. This is the oldest sprint on Watopia, named after Julynn Washington, a prominent early Zwifter. Watopia Mountain also includes the Epic KOM, at 9.5km, the longest climb on Zwift when it was introduced in March 2016.
The standard (5km) and long (10km) run options feature Whole Lotta Lava sections.
Stage 2 – launching Tuesday, October 22nd (with live events available between 22-28 Oct): Jungle to Alpe du Zwift
The tour heads into the Mayan Jungle on the short Jungle Circuit and standard Serpentine 8 routes. Both first appeared in October 2017. Riders must swap their road bikes with MTBs to complete this one.
The long route, however, tackles the Road to Sky. Featuring the fearsome Alpe du Zwift (12km at 8%), which debuted five years ago. It is modeled on the real-world Alpe d’Huez and features 21 leg-sapping hairpin bends.
The standard (5km) and extended (10km) run options feature Road to Sky sections.
Stage 3 – launching Tuesday, October 29th (with live events available between 29 Oct-4 Nov): Fuego to Titans
The tour travels east for stage three featuring; Tempus Fugit (short), Sand and Sequoias (standard), and Eastern Eight (long) cycle routes all visit the Fuego Flats Desert, which dates back to 2019. The two longest rides also head into the forest to scale the Titan’s Grove KOM (2.6km at 2.2%). While Eastern Eight incorporates the flat, underwater roads of Ocean Boulevard. Fun fact: Tempus Fugit is currently Zwift’s most popular route.
The standard (5km) and extended (10km) run options feature sections of Sand and Sequoias.
Stage 4 – launching Tuesday, November 5th (with live events available between 4-11 Nov): Southern Coast to The Grade
Taking on the Going Coastal (short), Mayan 8 (standard), and Itza Party (long) routes for the penultimate stage of the tour. Both Going Coastal and Itza Party include the coastal road expansion that was first introduced in October last year. While Going Coastal has no climbs of note. Itza Party has four ascents, including a tricky summit finish on the Itza KOM (3.75km at 3%).
The standard (5km) and long (10km) run options both feature sections of Mayan 8.
Zwift 2024 Tour of Watopia Stage 5
Launching Tuesday, November 12th (with live events available between 12-18 Nov): To be revealed
Zwifters might have noticed something unusual appearing from the ocean, just off Watopia’s coast, in the last few weeks… Could they be ancient structures, more cobbles, or how about an ultimate show down with the final Zwift boss MVDP? All will be revealed on Tuesday, November 12th, when stage five explores this new, exciting, and historic land.
Reg is Open
Registration for the Tour of Watopia is open now. Once each stage has launched, riders can ride it anytime before the tour concludes on Sunday, November 24th, and November 24th.
Ride with Mathieu van der Poel
In addition, Big Birthday Bash Rides are taking place between 3rd and 7th October, allowing Zwifters to ride with stars such as Mathieu van der Poel, Sir Chris Hoy, and athletes from CANYON//SRAM Racing.
FREE Zwift Play Controllers
What would an anniversary be without some sort of sale? It just so happens that Zwift is running a special promotion to mark this landmark occasion. Starting Monday, September 30th, and ending Sunday, October 6th. Customers who purchase any trainer on Zwift.com will receive a set of Zwift Play controllers worth £99.99/$99.99/€99.99/€ 99.99
