“Accelerate to Elevate” Route Details (Watopia)
By far the climbiest of the eight routes released with Zwift’s October 2023 southern coast expansion, this point-to-point route is quite flat… until it hits the base of Alpe du Zwift!
Route Basics
Length: 41 km (25.5 miles)
Elevation: 1153m (3,783′)
+2.3km (1.4 miles) lead-in with 6m (20′) elevation
Map: Watopia
ZIMetrics
Rating: 37.4/100 🛈
Time Estimates 🛈
4 W/kg: 91 minutes
3 W/kg: 109 minutes
2 W/kg: 148 minutes
Start & Finish
Events begin at the desert start pens, while the official route begins at desert arch. Ends atop Alpe du Zwift.
Format: Point-to-Point
Restriction: Level 10+
Ride Achievement Badge: 825 XP
Run Achievement Badge: none
Strava Segments
Route Description
Start in Fuego Flats, zipping through the flat, fast desert before turning at the Saddle Springs roundabout and dropping down to the village of Googie Springs on the new coastal road.
Now it’s time for a flat, twisty trip along Watopia’s southern coastline. After Googie Springs you’ll travel through the Evergreen Coast, Ciudad La Cumbre, and the settlement of Sandy Village while hitting four sprint points.
Then it’s up to the dirt road of the Mayan Jungle for a quick trip to the base of Alpe du Zwift, where the real work begins!
Climb up up up, win a prize with the spinner at the top (the route ends at the KOM arch), then enjoy the descent… you’ve earned it!
Ridealong Video
with the desert turnaround this route could be looped! pace partner potential =)
This is probably my new favorite route. For years it had been Fire and Ice because the typical Road to Sky route gets to the Alpe too fast. One thing Zwift needs to fix, though, is the “estimated time” for most riders. I finished in 1:30:03 for the route and that was at 4.1 w/kg average for the route and a 45 minute and change ascent of the Alpe. It’s definitely doable in 90 minutes, but I’ll be most riders will be over that unless they’re booking it . . .
Noted on the 90 minute fix. I’ll let Zwift know…
I always Wonder why zwift don’t give à “your estimated time” instead of à “for most riders”. It woud be easy to have an algorythm calculating it based on ftp.
This has bugged me for a bit, the over 90 category could be split further, and with their data, zwift could actually calculate the estimated time at your current pace from your latest efforts. I really like zwiftinsiders 2wkg estimate, it gives you a good guide how long it would take if you rake it easy. Would be helpful for zwift to put those on the description, otherwise I will just come to this site first.
Where’s the 2wkg ETA? I’m looking at the page here and at the master list and must be reading right past it. That would be super useful.
agreed, Zwift’s estimated time of <90min is ridiculous. I did it in 1h55min today at average 2.7w/kg and I note from the Strava segment that only 114 riders from 3988 have done it in under 90min. That's the top 3%. The median time is 1h57min. So I'd argue for an estimated time of 120min for the average rider going at an average pace.
Now the coastline road makes more sense! Almost 30 km lead in until the climbing starts. Nice for a pace and race! Group ride, with all out effort at the end.
Bike selection looks like a gamble for this one. Tron, climbing bike, one then swap to the other, or something in the middle ?
https://zwifterbikes.web.app/route can give you the best bike for your level and drops.
Unfortunately this route isn’t included on zwifterbikes yet!
It’s there!
https://zwifterbikes.web.app/route/accelerate-to-elevate
In a race situation, I guess staying with the main group will be imperative for the long “lead-in” to the Alpe, hence aero, but maybe leave the disc wheel in the garage due to weight on the long climb. For the same reason of the climb being long, switching to a climbing bike might actually be the right move, but if you start with a climbing bike my guess the race is over before you reach the foot of the Alpe.
Oh good. I can use some more gloves.
Would it be worth doing the speedy bike swap trick?
Aero at the beginning (Felt AR and 1100 Disc) then swap to climbing setup (Aethos with MS Lightweights).
Been pondering as to when to swap… Last kick before turning to go through ADZ arch or when ADZ elevation starts, figured going a slower speed to start with will limit the slow down time etc.
Hopefully that made sense! haha
The difference between the most aero setup and best climbing setup on the Alpe is about 39 seconds (see https://zwiftinsider.com/tron-vs-top-performers/). Since it only takes 10-15s to swap then yes, it would save you time to swap from pure aero to pure climber at the base of the Alpe.
That said, on a race on this course, I would probably just start with a climbing rig, since I don’t think the race will really “kick off” until the Alpe climb begins. Sitting in the wheels the pure climber will still cost you a few watts over a pure aero setup, but probably not enough to be noticeable (aero bike is 62 seconds faster than climbing bike over a flat 50 minute ride at 300W/4W/kg).
Noted mate 😎
As always, a legend and a scholar! Thanks 🤘🏻
I agree. But we shall see tomorrow in the tdz epic races!!