The grueling Absa Cape Epic 2020 has been canceled, but Zwift has organized Absa Cape Epic Race week – a series of events focused on “bringing the Absa Cape Epic experience to Zwift!” Of course, these events are nothing like the Cape Epic rides in terms of duration or difficulty – Zwift calls them “Cape Epic-inspired events.” They’ll be as difficult as you make them! And everyone will be riding the Scott Spark mountain bike.
Are These Races?
Here’s the official line from Zwift:
Nope. This is all about celebrating the Cape Epic with the Zwift community. But be warned: some will go full tilt. If you’re into a challenge, you may find yourself riding just as hard as you would in a race. In the end, the choice is yours.
Stages and Schedule
“Tempus Fugit” Route Details (Watopia)
“Tempus Fugit” is Latin for “time flees (or flies)”, and this is certainly a flat, fast route. Released as part of Zwift’s Fuego Flats desert expansion, it is designed as an out and back TT race course, with the lead-in from the desert start pens making the course come in right around 20km in length for one lap.
“Tempus Fugit” is Latin for “time flees (or flies)”, and this is certainly a flat, fast route. Released as part of Zwift’s Fuego Flats desert expansion, it is designed as an out and back TT race course, with the lead-in from the desert start pens making the course come in right around 20km in length for one lap.
Route Basics
Length: 17.3 km (10.7 miles)
Elevation: 16 m (52‘)
Lead-In: 2.4 km (1.5 miles)
Map: Watopia
Start & Finish
When freeriding you will spawn just before the desert start pens, giving us a lead-in of approximately 2.4km before the sprint finish line. The official route start and end is at the desert arch (Fuego Flats sprint finish line).
Achievement Badge: 380 XP
Sprint & KQOM Segments |
Fuego Flats Sprint (0.5km, 0.2%) |
Fuego Flats Reverse (7.1km, 0%) |
Fuego Flats Sprint (km, %) |
Strava Segments
Bike Selection
This route is nearly pan-flat, so aero rules the day. Get the most slippery frame and wheels you can afford!
BestBikeSplit Model
Estimate ride time, IF and TSS, plan your power, and more!
Route Description
Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!
This is the flattest route in all of Zwift as the time of its release, with only 16m (52′) of elevation gain from start line to finish. There are some ~1% false flats, but they are barely noticeable as you fly through the picturesque desert.
There are lots of landmarks in Fuego Flats to help you keep your bearings. First you pass the cliff dwellings near the first turnaround loop, then you hit the forward 500m sprint segment. Next you’ll ride through the old town of Desert Flats (watch for the steam engine to come roaring through) then through a gap in the rocks to a hidden oasis complete with a waterfall and dinosaur fossils.
Continue on and you’ll ride into Saddle Springs, the 1950’s-inspired resort town where you’ll make your turnaround before heading back home. Just after the turnaround you’ll cross the start line of the 7km “Fuego Flats Reverse” segment which ends at the same rock arch where the forward sprint ends.
You’ll ride through this arch, around the first turnaround loop (the one with ruins of cliff dwellings) then finish the route with a second effort on the 500m sprint segment.
Ridealong Video
“Jungle Circuit” Route Details (Watopia)
Watopia’s “Jungle Circuit” was added with the Mayan jungle expansion in late October 2017. This is a lollipop route, meaning you start with a lead-in then remain on the circuit portion until your legs fall off.
Watopia’s “Jungle Circuit” was added with the Mayan jungle expansion in late October 2017. This is a lollipop route, meaning you start with a lead-in then remain on the circuit portion until your legs fall off.
Route Basics
Length: 7.9 km (4.9 miles)
Elevation: 79 m (259‘)
Lead-In: 5.7 km (3.5 miles)
Map: Watopia
Start & Finish
If you choose this route for a free ride or workout you will spawn on the road to the Mayan jungle, several hundred meters before the jungle start pens. Ride into the circuit portion, then remain on the circuit for the rest of your ride.
Event riders begin at the Jungle start pens, giving you a short lead-in down to the bottom of the jungle before starting the first circuit lap. (See Strava lead-in segments below.)
Restriction: Level 5+
Achievement Badge: 260 XP
Sprint & KQOM Segments |
None |
BestBikeSplit Model
Estimate ride time, IF and TSS, plan your power, and more!
Route Description
Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!
The jungle loop itself is almost 8km in length. In the forward direction, you roll through the lap banner at the loop’s lowest elevation, then ride a gradual climb (~3%) to cross the dizzying heights of the rope bridge. Soon enough you are zipping downhill to the bottom of the valley for another lap.
The entire circuit is dirt, and while this was only a visual change when the Jungle was first released, Zwift modified the rolling resistance of dirt in October 2019 and again in 2023. Now, different bike wheels perform differently in the Jungle, making your wheel choice especially strategic when racing!
“Road to Sky” Route Details (Watopia)
Watopia’s “Road to Sky” route is the shortest route which includes Alpe du Zwift, a massive climb modeled after the iconic Alp d’Huez.
Watopia’s “Road to Sky” route is the shortest route which includes Alpe du Zwift, a massive climb modeled after the iconic Alp d’Huez.
Route Basics
Length: 17.3 km (10.7 miles)
Elevation: 1045 m (3,428‘)
Lead-In: 0.1 km (0.1 miles)
Map: Watopia
Restriction: Level 6+
Achievement Badge: 380 XP
Sprint & KQOM Segments |
Alpe du Zwift KOM (12.2km, 8.5%) |
Strava Segments
Bike Selection
Looking to get your fastest time up the Alpe? Check out Fastest Bike Frame and Wheelset for Climbing Alpe du Zwift.
BestBikeSplit Model
Estimate ride time, IF and TSS, plan your power, and more!
Route Description
Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!
Zwift created this route using GPS data to perfectly match the incline and distance of the storied climb with its 21 hairpin turns. The climb to Alp d’Huez actually has two different finish points: the “tourist version” and the Tour de France version. Alpe du Zwift matches the tourist version, which is ~2km shorter with 40 meters less climbing than the TdF. In all, Alpe du Zwift is 12.24km (7.6 miles) long, with a total elevation gain of over 1000 meters (3400′)! Read more >
If you choose this route for a freeride you’ll begin just a few hundred yards before the jungle start pens. Events on Road to Sky now begin in the jungle start pens.
So whatever type of ride you’re doing, you’ll drop into the jungle, wave to the sloth and enjoy a little gravel riding before you hang a right and head up the Alpe.
The route ends at the KOM banner atop Alpe du Zwift.
Ridealong Video
“Road to Ruins” Route Details (Watopia)
Watopia’s “Road to Ruins” was added with the Mayan jungle expansion in late October 2017. It begins just like the Jungle Circuit, but takes you to the Volcano Flat and back home to the start/finish banner instead of leaving you riding jungle laps.
Watopia’s “Road to Ruins” was added with the Mayan jungle expansion in late October 2017. It begins just like the Jungle Circuit, but takes you to the Volcano Flat and back home to the start/finish banner instead of leaving you riding jungle laps.
Route Basics
Length: 29.6 km (18.4 miles)
Elevation: 268 m (879‘)
Lead-In: 0.5 km (0.3 miles)
Map: Watopia
Start & Finish
Begins and ends at the downtown Watopia start/finish banner.
Restriction: Level 5+
Achievement Badge: 580 XP
Sprint & KQOM Segments |
None |
Strava Segments
Road to Ruins
Road to Ruins Forward from Start Pier
Road to Ruins Reverse
Bike Selection
Read this post for a detailed analysis of which bike is best on Road to Ruins.
BestBikeSplit Model
Estimate ride time, IF and TSS, plan your power, and more!
Route Description
Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!
Currently this is the only route which takes you through the jungle and back through the start/finish banner without going over the Epic KOM. It is sure to be a popular group ride route for this reason.
Ridealong Video
See event details and sign up at Zwift.com >
Kit Unlock
Complete any of the events to unlock the zebra-inspired Cape Epic kit.
Complete Your Mission!
Remember, the Absa Cape Epic Mission is currently running on Zwift, where you need to climb 2,850m on the Scott Spark MTB to complete the mission and unlock the zebra-inspired Cape Epic paint scheme. Why not use these events to get your MTB climbing done?