This page includes route maps and other details for Zwift’s France course. This massive map originally launched on June 26, 2020 in anticipation of the first-ever Virtual Tour de France.

Looking for other courses? Jump to Watopia Routes, London Routes, New York City Routes, Innsbruck Routes, Yorkshire Routes, Crit City Routes, Bologna TT, or Richmond Routes.

Casse-Pattes

Animated “Casse-Pattes” Route Details (France) Map
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks
French cyclists use the term “casse-pattes” (literally “leg-breaking”) to refer to particularly difficult parts of a ride, or roads that awkwardly change gradient and break a cyclist’s rhythm. Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, the Casse-Pattes route covers the large outer loop of the map in a clockwise direction. The first 12km is pan-flat with two timed sprint segments, but then that rhythm is broken up in the back half by two timed KOM climbs.  

French cyclists use the term “casse-pattes” (literally “leg-breaking”) to refer to particularly difficult parts of a ride, or roads that awkwardly change gradient and break a cyclist’s rhythm.

Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, the Casse-Pattes route covers the large outer loop of the map in a clockwise direction. The first 12km is pan-flat with two timed sprint segments, but then that rhythm is broken up in the back half by two timed KOM climbs.

 

Route Basics

Length: 23 km (14.3 miles)
Elevation: 145 m (476‘)
Lead-In: 0.9 km (0.6 miles)
Map: France

Start & Finish

Begins and ends at the Marina Sprint banner.

Restriction: Temporarily Event-Only

Achievement Badge: 460 XP

Banners and Leaderboards

(in order of appearance)
Marina Sprint Reverse
Pavé Sprint Reverse
Aqueduc KOM Reverse
Petit KOM

Strava Strava Segments

Casse-Pattes
Lead-In from Start Pens

Bike Selection

Despite two timed KOM segments, this route is very flat overall. Your fastest times will come from an aero setup!

Fastest Frames >
Fastest Wheels >

See Upcoming Events on This Route >

Route Description

Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!

Beginning with a short lead-in from the start pens, we travel east into the marina where we get a chance to hit the Marina Reverse Sprint. (This sprint banner is the official start/finish line for this loop.)

Enjoy the sites as you spin through the flattest portion of the France map. You’ll spot Mont Saint-Michel to your left, as well as a familiar Arch and Needle as you ride near the sea. Just past a field of sunflowers, you’ll enter a town that includes the Pavé sprint segment. Go for the green, then prep your legs for the short Aqueduc KOM.

You will descend into the fields of vineyards and flowers before it’s time to hit the big climb of this loop: the Petit KOM. At 2.7km with an average grade of 4% its zigzags are just long and steep enough to make your legs really feel the effort!

Recover as you descend and ride past the start pens, then it’s one final Marina Reverse sprint to the finish line.

Douce France

Animated “Douce France” Route Details (France) Map
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks
Literally “sweet France”, this route covers the upper loop of Zwift’s France map which was created for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France. It runs in a counter-clockwise direction, which means it’s just a reverse version of the R.G.V. route.

Literally “sweet France”, this route covers the upper loop of Zwift’s France map which was created for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France. It runs in a counter-clockwise direction, which means it’s just a reverse version of the R.G.V. route.

Route Basics

Length: 24.1 km (15.0 miles)
Elevation: 108 m (354‘)
Lead-In: 0 km ( miles)
Map: France

Start & Finish

Ends at marina sprint banner. Begins from start pens, or just before pens if free-riding. Subsequent laps begin and end at the marina sprint banner.

Restriction: Temporarily Event-Only

Achievement Badge: 480 XP

Banners and Leaderboards

(in order of appearance)
Ballon Sprint
Aqueduc KOM
Pavé Sprint
Marina Sprint

Strava Strava Segments

Douce France
Douce France from Start Pens

Bike Selection

This route is very flat overall. Your fastest times will come from an aero setup!

Fastest Frames >
Fastest Wheels >

See Upcoming Events on This Route >

Route Description

Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!

We begin by traveling west from the start pens, taking the first right onto the twisty river road toward the hot air balloon fields and the Ballon sprint. Then another left takes us through vineyards and over the short Aqueduc KOM and quickly through town onto the Pavé Sprint.

Then it’s past the sites of the Needle and Arch, Mont Saint-Michel, and the lighthouse, into the marina and onto the finishing Marina Sprint.

Note: this route is a little odd, in that it doesn’t appear to have a “lead-in” from the start pens, even though the start/finish lap banner is nearly a full lap from the start pens. (You will unlock the badge on your first go around, despite only traveling through the lap banner once at the finish.) So we created two Strava segments – one for your first lap, and another for subsequent laps.

 

La Reine

Animated “La Reine” Route Details (France) Map
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks
Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, La Reine (translated “The Queen”) is the Queen Stage of the vTDF, taking riders up Mount Ventoux to the Chalet Reynard banner. It’s also the only route that isn’t listed in the France map’s route picker, indicating that La Reine will continue to be event-only even after the France map is added to the guest map rotation. This route is an alternative way to ride Mount Ventoux, but be warned: it bypasses the Mount Ventoux KOM start line, so if you choose to ride all the way to the top, you won’t be listed on the leaderboard or Strava segments for the climbs! (If you want to ride the KOM start to finish, select the Ven-Top route.)

Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, La Reine (translated “The Queen”) is the Queen Stage of the vTDF, taking riders up Mount Ventoux to the Chalet Reynard banner. It’s also the only route that isn’t listed in the France map’s route picker, indicating that La Reine will continue to be event-only even after the France map is added to the guest map rotation.

This route is an alternative way to ride Mount Ventoux, but be warned: it bypasses the Mount Ventoux KOM start line, so if you choose to ride all the way to the top, you won’t be listed on the leaderboard or Strava segments for the climbs! (If you want to ride the KOM start to finish, select the Ven-Top route.)

Route Basics

Length: 22.8 km (14.2 miles)
Elevation: 1181 m (3,875‘)
Lead-In: 0 km ( miles)
Map: France

Start & Finish

Begins from start pens, ends at Chalet-Reynard KOM banner partway up Ventoux.

Restriction: Event Only

Banners and Leaderboards

(in order of appearance)
Ballon Sprint
Petit KOM

Strava Strava Segments

La Reine

Bike Selection

Looking to get your fastest time up this climb? The Specialized Tarmac Pro frame with Lightweight Meilenstein wheels is your best bet! Check out Fastest Bike Frame and Wheelset for Climbing Alpe du Zwift for more tips.

See Upcoming Events on This Route >

Route Description

We begin by traveling west from the start pens, then taking the first right to ride along the twisty river road toward the hot air balloon fields and Ballon sprint. Enjoy your 8km of flat warmup, because you’ll soon turn right and begin the Petit KOM climb – and your climbing won’t end until you reach the KOM banner at Chalet Reynard over 14km (and 1100 meters) later!

The climb up to Chalet Reynard is beautiful, with the landscape morphing from lowland rolling hills to granite-strewn pine forests. You’ll pass the Didi (aka “El Diablo”) balloon 1km from the finish line. Got anything left? Push it to the end!

Keep Going?

For those unfamiliar with Mount Ventoux’s layout, Chalet Reynard is located 6km before the finish line at the very top of Mount Ventoux. If you choose, you can continue riding after finishing the La Reine route, climbing for another 6km to the summit.

A bit of TDF History

In 2016, Tour organizers cut the Mont Ventoux stage short due to high winds, deciding to end it at Chalet Reynard. Race leader Chris Froome crashed into a stopped moto and famously elected to run his way across the final ~1km since he couldn’t ride his broken bike! (He was eventually given a neutral service bike.)

Petit Boucle

Animated “Petit Boucle” Route Details (France) Map
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks
Looking for a tour of France? Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, the Petit Boucle route is the longest on the map (along with Tire-Bouchon). Its name references Le Tour’s “Grand Boucle” nickname, which means “big loop.”  It covers all roads in both directions, except for the road up Mont Ventoux.

Looking for a tour of France? Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, the Petit Boucle route is the longest on the map (along with Tire-Bouchon). Its name references Le Tour’s “Grand Boucle” nickname, which means “big loop.” 

It covers all roads in both directions, except for the road up Mont Ventoux.

Route Basics

Length: 61 km (37.9 miles)
Elevation: 430 m (1,411‘)
Lead-In: 1 km (0.6 miles)
Map: France

Start & Finish

Begins and ends at the Marina Sprint banner.

Restriction: Temporarily Event-Only

Achievement Badge: 1220 XP

Banners and Leaderboards

(in order of appearance)
Marina Sprint Reverse
Pavé Sprint Reverse
Aqueduc KOM Reverse
Ballon Sprint Reverse
Aqueduc KOM
Pavé Sprint
Marina Sprint
Ballon Sprint
Petit KOM

Strava Strava Segments

Petit Boucle

Bike Selection

This loop is flat and fast. Your fastest times will come from an aero setup!

Fastest Frames >
Fastest Wheels >

See Upcoming Events on This Route >

Route Description

Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!

This route begins with almost an entire loop of the R.G.V. route, but it turns left near the end, heading toward the start pens instead of the finish line. This takes you uphill to a left-hand turn onto the Petit KOM’s descent.

After a right at the next fork, we’re back on the road we started with, in the opposite direction. That means we’ll hit the Aqueduc KOM and Pavé Sprint before passing Mont Saint-Michel and the lighthouse and heading into the marina for a Marina Sprint.

Then it’s along the twisty river road with hot air balloons floating in the sky, where we’ll hit the Ballon sprint.

Next we turn right onto the Petit KOM – the longest climb of this route. Finish the climb, descend past the starting pens, and finish with one more Marina Reverse Sprint.

R.G.V.

Animated “R.G.V.” Route Details (France) Map
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks
Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, the R.G.V. route covers the upper, larger loop of the map in a clockwise direction. The first 12km is pan-flat, while the back half includes a timed KOM and some rollers along the river. It’s one for the sprinters: though only 24km in length, this route includes three timed sprint segments!

Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, the R.G.V. route covers the upper, larger loop of the map in a clockwise direction. The first 12km is pan-flat, while the back half includes a timed KOM and some rollers along the river. It’s one for the sprinters: though only 24km in length, this route includes three timed sprint segments!

Route Basics

Length: 24.1 km (15.0 miles)
Elevation: 107 m (351‘)
Lead-In: 1 km (0.6 miles)
Map: France

Start & Finish

Begins and ends at the Marina Sprint banner.

Restriction: Temporarily Event-Only

Achievement Badge: 480 XP

Banners and Leaderboards

(in order of appearance)
Marina Sprint Reverse
Pavé Sprint Reverse
Aqueduc KOM Reverse
Ballon Sprint Reverse

Strava Strava Segments

R.G.V.
Lead-In from Start Pens

Bike Selection

This loop is flat and fast. Your fastest times will come from an aero setup!

Fastest Frames >
Fastest Wheels >

See Upcoming Events on This Route >

Route Description

Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!

The first 16km of this route match Casse-Pattes. Beginning with a short lead-in from the start pens, we travel east into the marina where we get a chance to hit the Marina Reverse Sprint. (This sprint banner is the official start/finish line for this loop.)

Enjoy the sites as you spin through the flattest portion of the France map. You’ll spot Mont Saint-Michel to your left, as well as a familiar Arch and Needle as you ride near the sea. Just past a field of sunflowers, you’ll enter a town that includes the Pavé sprint segment. Go for the green, then prep your legs for the short Aqueduc KOM.

Next we turn right toward the “Balloon fields” where we’ll hit the Ballon Reverse Sprint, then enjoy a twisty, rolling ride along the river before wrapping up our lap with another Marina Reverse Sprint.

Roule Ma Poule

Animated “Roule Ma Poule” Route Details (France) Map
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks
Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, Roule Ma Poule is essentially the reverse version of the Casse-Pattes route, covering the full outer loop in a counter-clockwise direction with a different start/finish location atop the Petit KOM.

Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, Roule Ma Poule is essentially the reverse version of the Casse-Pattes route, covering the full outer loop in a counter-clockwise direction with a different start/finish location atop the Petit KOM.

Route Basics

Length: 23 km (14.3 miles)
Elevation: 145 m (476‘)
Lead-In: 3.1 km (1.9 miles)
Map: France

Start & Finish

Loop begins and ends at Petit KOM arch. Lead-in from start pens/spawn point is significant, with some climbing (see Strava segment below).

Restriction: Temporarily Event-Only

Achievement Badge: 460 XP

Banners and Leaderboards

(in order of appearance)
Aqueduc KOM
Pavé Sprint
Marina Sprint

Strava Strava Segments

Roule Ma Poule
Start Pens Lead-In to Petit KOM Banner (Zwift Insider verified)

Bike Selection

This route is very flat overall. Your fastest times will come from an aero setup!

Fastest Frames >
Fastest Wheels >

See Upcoming Events on This Route >

Route Description

Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!

We begin with a significant lead-in climb traveling east from the start pens up to the Petit KOM banner.

Once you cross the banner the official loop begins, starting with a zigzag descent of the Petit KOM soon followed by the short Aqueduc KOM. Enjoy your ride through the french countryside, hitting the cobbled Pavé Sprint, riding past the field of sunflowers and through the tunnel of trees.

Then it’s past the sites of the Needle and Arch, Mont Saint-Michel, and the lighthouse, into the marina and onto the Marina Sprint.

All that’s left from here is to ride past the start pens, climbing back up to the Petit KOM banner to finish your lap.

Tire-Bouchon

Animated “Tire-Bouchon” Route Details (France) Map
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks
Looking for a tour of France? Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, the Tire-Bouchon route is the longest on the map (along with Petit Boucle). Its name translates to “corkscrew” in French, and that’s exactly what your ride may feel like as you cover all the France map’s roads in both directions (except for the road up Mont Ventoux). 

Looking for a tour of France? Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, the Tire-Bouchon route is the longest on the map (along with Petit Boucle).

Its name translates to “corkscrew” in French, and that’s exactly what your ride may feel like as you cover all the France map’s roads in both directions (except for the road up Mont Ventoux). 

Route Basics

Length: 61 km (37.9 miles)
Elevation: 431 m (1,414‘)
Lead-In: 3.1 km (1.9 miles)
Map: France

Start & Finish

Route begins and ends at Petit KOM arch. Lead-in from start pens/spawn point is significant, with some climbing (see Strava segment below).

Restriction: Temporarily Event-Only

Achievement Badge: 1220 XP

Banners and Leaderboards

(in order of appearance)
Ballon Sprint Reverse
Marina Sprint Reverse
Pavé Sprint Reverse
Aquaduct KOM Reverse
Petit KOM
Ballon Sprint
Aqueduc KOM
Pavé Sprint
Marina Sprint

Strava Strava Segments

Tire-Bouchon
Start Pens Lead-In to Petit KOM Banner (Zwift Insider verified)

Bike Selection

This route is very flat overall. Your fastest times will come from an aero setup!

Fastest Frames >
Fastest Wheels >

See Upcoming Events on This Route >

Route Description

Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!

The route begins (and ends) at the Petit KOM arch. That means a significant lead-in from the start pens, so be ready for some climbing out of the gate! Once you ride through the Petit KOM arch you will descend the zigzags and turn left onto the Balloon fields, hitting Ballon Sprint Reverse.

Then it’s a right turn onto the Marina Sprint Reverse, through the marina town and past some of the key sites of this route: the lighthouse, Mont Saint-Michel, and the Needle & Arch. Just past the field of sunflowers you’ll ride into town and over the Pavé Sprint Reverse segment, then it’s past more fields and up the short Aqueduc KOM Reverse.

The largest climb of the route is next, the Petit KOM. (Now we’re riding roads we’ve already covered, but in the other direction!) Climb those zigzags then descend past the start pens, turning right to ride the twisty road along the river and past the hot air balloons once more, onto the Ballon Sprint.

Turn left and hit the Aqueduc KOM and Pavé Sprint, ride around to the marina and a Marina Sprint, then past the start pens and up the climb to the Petit KOM banner to finish. You did it!

Ven-Top

Animated “Ven-Top” Route Details (France) Map
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks
Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, the “Ven-Top” route is named for the massive climb it contains: Mont Ventoux! This GPS-accurate model of the world-famous climb is by far the toughest ascent in game, climbing 1480 meters (4857′) from the beginning to end of the timed KOM segment.

Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, the “Ven-Top” route is named for the massive climb it contains: Mont Ventoux! This GPS-accurate model of the world-famous climb is by far the toughest ascent in game, climbing 1480 meters (4857′) from the beginning to end of the timed KOM segment.

Route Basics

Length: 20.9 km (13.0 miles)
Elevation: 1534 m (5,033‘)
Lead-In: 0 km ( miles)
Map: France

Start & Finish

Begins at start pens, ends atop Mont Ventoux at KOM arch

Restriction: Temporarily Event-Only

Achievement Badge: 420 XP

Banners and Leaderboards

(in order of appearance)
Mont Ventoux KOM

Strava Strava Segments

Ven-Top
Mont Ventoux KOM
Chalet Reynard KOM
Start Pens to Chalet Reynard

Bike Selection

Looking to get your fastest time up this massive climb? The Specialized Tarmac Pro frame with Lightweight Meilenstein wheels is your best bet! Check out Fastest Bike Frame and Wheelset for Climbing Alpe du Zwift for more tips.

See Upcoming Events on This Route >

Route Description

Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!

The route begins at the start pens heading east (away from the marina) and immediately onto a false flat. Enjoy it while you can: it’s only going to get steeper!

The timed KOM begins approximately 1.8km after the start. From here you have 19km and 1480m to the top of Mont Ventoux, or you can target the first KOM arch at Chalet Reynard which is 13km and 1058m from the KOM start line. (For comparison, the Chalet Reynard KOM line makes this climb very similar to Alpe du Zwift, which is 12.2km long with 1035m of elevation gain.)

When you pass the Didi ballon and see pitchforks on the pavement, you know you’re getting close to Chalet Reynard. Keep pushing for another 500 meters to that KOM banner. Then you have a decision to make: do you have what it takes to push for another 6km and 400+ meters to the top? (Of course you do! You’ve made it this far. Keep going!)

Notice how the landscape and foliage changes as you climb, beginning with rolling hills and pastures, morphing into a landscape strewn with giant boulders and pine trees, and eventually changing to the famous “moonscape” of Mont Ventoux’s upper reaches. Be happy you’re indoors – it gets windy outside!

You’ll pass Tom Simpson’s memorial with 1km to go. Almost there!

When you reach the weather station atop Mont Ventoux, you’ve completed the Ven-Top route. But keep riding on the flat loop to turn around, then enjoy the long descent – you’ve earned it!