Route Maps & Details for Zwift’s France Course

This page includes basic details for all routes on Zwift’s France world. For additional route details, click the corresponding link to be taken to that route’s detail page.

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.  

Route Basics

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

Restriction: none

Achievement Badge: 460 XP

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.  

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.

Route Basics

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

Restriction:

Achievement Badge: 480 XP

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.

France Classic Fondo

Animated “France Classic Fondo” Route Details (France) Map
Animated map provided by ZwiftHacks

Added in Zwift’s March 2023 minor update, this event-only route is the longest ride in France by far. And it contains more sprint/KQOM segments than any other Zwift route, with a total of 24!

This route was rolled out as part of Zwift’s 2023 #watchthefemmes campaign. Fondos will be held here on April 8th, the same day as Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift 2023.

Route Basics

Length: 145.9 km (90.7 miles)
Elevation:
1099 m (3,606‘)
Lead-In: 1 km (0.6 miles)
Map: France

Restriction: Event Only

Added in Zwift’s March 2023 minor update, this event-only route is the longest ride in France by far. And it contains more sprint/KQOM segments than any other Zwift route, with a total of 24!

This route was rolled out as part of Zwift’s 2023 #watchthefemmes campaign. Fondos will be held here on April 8th, the same day as Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift 2023.

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”) was the Queen Stage of the vTDF, taking riders partway up Mount Ventoux to the Chalet Reynard banner.

This route began as an event-only route, but became an open route in the December 2022 update.

La Reine 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 main Ventoux climb! 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

Restriction: none

Achievement Badge: 460 XP

Released with Zwift’s France map for the first-ever Virtual Tour de France, La Reine (translated “The Queen”) was the Queen Stage of the vTDF, taking riders partway up Mount Ventoux to the Chalet Reynard banner.

This route began as an event-only route, but became an open route in the December 2022 update.

La Reine 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 main Ventoux climb! If you want to ride the KOM start to finish, select the Ven-Top route.

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.

Route Basics

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

Restriction: none

Achievement Badge: 1220 XP

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.

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.

“R.G.V” stands for route grand vitesse, or “high speed road”. A fitting name, since this route is definitely one for the sprinters. Though only 24km in length, it 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

Restriction:

Achievement Badge: 480 XP

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.

“R.G.V” stands for route grand vitesse, or “high speed road”. A fitting name, since this route is definitely one for the sprinters. Though only 24km in length, it includes three timed sprint segments!

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.

Route Basics

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

Restriction: none

Achievement Badge: 460 XP

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.

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). 

Route Basics

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

Restriction:

Achievement Badge: 1220 XP

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). 

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.

Route Basics

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

Restriction: none

Achievement Badge: 420 XP

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.

Looking for route details of other Zwift worlds? Jump to:

Eric Schlange
Eric Schlangehttp://www.zwiftinsider.com
Eric runs Zwift Insider in his spare time when he isn't on the bike or managing various business interests. He lives in Northern California with his beautiful wife, two kids and dog. Follow on Strava

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Gil Santa Maria
Gil Santa Maria
3 years ago

What does R.G.V mean? Do you know?

Sven Engström
Sven Engström
3 years ago

I imagine it’s Route à Grande Vitesse, or High Speed Route, which would be a play on T.G.V. (Train à Grande Vitesse – High Speed Train), which is the name given to France’s inter-city high speed trains.

Gil Santa Maria
Gil Santa Maria
3 years ago
Reply to  Sven Engström

Great!! Thanks

Craig Wiley
Craig Wiley(@cwiley)
3 years ago

The river road section, is this similar to Titan’s Groves rollers?

Marcus Haughton
Marcus Haughton(@haughton-marcus)
3 years ago

From riding it, it looks like there’s potentially going to be some gravel or MTB routes in the future.

Olivier Meirhaeghe
Olivier Meirhaeghe
3 years ago

Second that. There is a route forestiere which goes up ventoux (or down) and popular with MTB and runners. That would be a cool addition.

Steve
Steve
3 years ago

On ” La Riene” you say:

This route is an alternative way to ride Mount Ventoux, but be warned: it bypasses the Mount Ventoux KOM start line

but it looks like this route does include the full “Ven-top” route. Where is the Mount Ventoux KOM start line located?

Daniel Eden
Daniel Eden
3 years ago
Reply to  Steve

I have just ridden the ‘Roule Ma Poule’ route and the Mt Ventoux KOM banner was about 2km from the start of this, on the way up to the Petit KOM banner. It was roughly where the turquoise line is in the attached screenshot. Eric is right that the ‘La Reine’ route will bypass it but so will the ‘Ven-Top’ as well as this starts much higher up the mountain. I haven’t ridden Ven-Top yet so can’t say whether there is a separate KOM banner, but the one I highlighted was definitely a ‘Mt Ventoux’ banner. Very strange.

screenshot.png
Steve West
Steve West
2 years ago
Reply to  Daniel Eden

Wow, Eric, thanks for all you do! I love that the world names on the calendar are clicks-through to the worlds and routes.

Allard
Allard
3 years ago

Am i the only one who sees the potential for zwift to add the Malaucene side of the Ventoux in the future? The layout of the roads seem very similar to the real-life roads between Bedoin and Malaucene

John Richardson
John Richardson
3 years ago
Reply to  Allard

If Malaucéne is added then so should Sault. Virtual Les Cinglés

Rik Rayner
Rik Rayner
3 years ago

I’m pretty sure that at Chalet Reynard there is at least a visual representation of the Sault road branching to the left on the descent…that would be so cool if I could do a virtual Les Cinglés to add to my real one!

Pascal
Pascal
2 years ago
Reply to  Allard

Malaucene IRL is probably one of the most beautiful rides I have ever done. Hard work, but stunning. You are in the forest for ~18KM and as you pop out of the forest, 3km from the top, you get your first spot of the Iconic summit. Still some riding left, but the toughest bit is behind you…

Summit Low Res.jpg
Olivier Meirhaeghe
Olivier Meirhaeghe
3 years ago

Mont ventoux has somewhat of a unique flora (small, crooked trees in “la first”) I have done it many times, but it looks really that this is just a GPS accurate map. Are there any realistic visuals until the top section ? Also, this looks like it starts roughly right before the turn into the forest in saint Esteve, not baudoin ? (E.g does it skip the first 5km at 4%).

Rik Rayner
Rik Rayner
3 years ago

There have definitely been graphical liberties taken for the forest section – but perhaps an hour of 10-11% climbing through trees would be a little dreary. AllI remember about the real climb is wanting it to end!!! The section after Chalet Reynard is much more accurate is appearance

Dave Sans
Dave Sans
3 years ago

So will you only be able to ride the 3 stages on the 3 weekends?

Zach
Zach
3 years ago

Really want to ride these and am bummed they’re event only for now.

James
James
3 years ago
Reply to  Zach

So just enter the event?

John Higginbotham
John Higginbotham
3 years ago

I notice from the download on the AppStore that France is an event only world. Will this change after TdF

Ciaran
Ciaran
3 years ago

Roule Ma Poule and Tire-Bouchon are both going to be fantastic routes for racing with hilltop finishes.

Simon L
Simon L
3 years ago

Thanks Eric for the effort you put into this website, it is a fantastic resource for all of us Zwifters and must be hard work to keep it all up to date. Looking forward to exploring all of these new roads over the next few weeks…

Lewis
Lewis
3 years ago

One tiny observation: Froome did run up part of Ventoux, but not all the way to the finish line. He first had a neutral service bike, and then got a replacement team bike to complete the stage.

Xavier
Xavier
3 years ago

Do you actually get bonus XP for La Reine? Unusual for an event-only route. I don’t see any badge for it in my list, or is it a hidden achievement?
Btw, I tried the tire-bouchon, absolutely loved it.

Terrence Moore Robinson Jr
Terrence Moore Robinson Jr
3 years ago

When will these be available for us with shut-in legs?

Jamison Roberts
Jamison Roberts
3 years ago

Just rode Ven-Top, aka Ventoux KOM. The report given is accurate, about a 1.8km lead in, which is slightly up hill with about 59m gain before the start of the KOM. Somewhat disappointed that the climb is not segmented like Alpe du Zwift, so it’s just one long slog up. I didn’t know what to expect, and after doing a double Innsbruck Reverse KOM yesterday, just didn’t have the legs to do much more than 2.7w/kg the whole way. Long stretches of 10 or 11 percent gradients after the first km or so, only letting up for a bit before… Read more »

Mike Coughlin
Mike Coughlin
3 years ago

Are there plans to add these routes and KOMs (along with the Paris routes) to the Veloviewer Route Hunter Leaderboard? Perhaps once they go live for freeriding?

Nick Warrick
Nick Warrick
3 years ago

The Marina area seems very similar in layout and visuals to La Rochelle where there is also a near by island (IL de Re)which is famous for its cycling routes incidentally

Tim Schneider
Tim Schneider(@tasmobile)
3 years ago

I wonder if there will be a reward at the top of Ven-top like for AdZ with the spinner? Maybe socks this time? I don’t need any more virtual gloves…

Matt 3595
Super Member
Matt 3595(@straightlineboy)
3 years ago

Unless I’m missing it, the one variation I’d like to see is a short loop that went round and round the petit KOM, would be good for punchy intervals

Soizic
Soizic
3 years ago

I wil ride tomorrow, really look forward to it. Hope it will remind me of home (Bretagne). Let’s hope we will be ride these world free after the tdf.

Arno Baels
Arno Baels
3 years ago

When comparing your maps with Strava and Veloviewer, your maps are rotated 90 degrees clockwise, so I think your maps should be rotated 90 degrees anti clockwise!

Georges Guêpe
Georges Guêpe
3 years ago

Magnificent. Like Lanser-Kopf until Chalet Reynard. And if you’ve got that far, completing the ascent is a choiceless-choice. The iconic meteo-rocket summit skyscraper is tantalisingly obscured until the final push and the inclusion of the Tom Simpson memorial detail is touching.
Don’t hesitate. The sense of achievement will wash away the lactate and you can freewheel back down to Saint-Estève feeling good.

Chris
Chris(@christophernhope)
3 years ago

Is it possible to use your influence to get a ZwiftInsider segment from the Junction at the to of the Petite KOM to Chalet Reynard and to the Ven Top summit? Would be nice to track public times on Strava regardless of whether we pick La Reine or Ven Top

Zanri Rossouw
Zanri Rossouw
3 years ago

Will Paris and France be available for everyone to train on like a London, Whatopia etc

Devin Columbus
Member
Devin Columbus(@dcolumbus)
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

It would be such a shame to not release these two “worlds” for general consumption. I really wish they would release the Japan world, regardless of the Olympics.

Malcolm Isaacs
Malcolm Isaacs
3 years ago

@Eric Schlange do you know if I was to manually navigate to any of the other routes, would I still get the route badge provided I started and ended at the correct locations? Thanks

Malcolm Isaacs
Malcolm Isaacs
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Thanks, that just saved me from doing the entire route with no reward 😅

Risch Roland
Risch Roland
3 years ago

Will the France routes and maps stay on the weekly schedule from now on, or is it only for the month of August?

kevinc
kevinc
3 years ago

Just rode Roule ma Poule, actual distance / elevation is 26.6km / 263m. Nice change of scenery.

joe
joe
3 years ago

The maps are too small to a good view of the course

Kareltje
Kareltje(@karel-grootte)
3 years ago

Is it true that you get 1220XP for Tire Bouchon, and only 420 for Ven-Top?

Enrique
Enrique
3 years ago

Great site with really useful information. My go to site for Zwift info.
Thanks for keeping it up.

Leo Missler
Leo Missler
3 years ago

Hi, yesterday I did the Tire Bouchon challenge and when I checked out the details, I did about 64,3km, that’s ok. But the elevation meters were quite a bit more….596m vs 431m? I climbed 3 times the hills. Strange? Or went something wrong?

ZwiftInsider post 28sep20.jpg
Leo Missler
Leo Missler
3 years ago

An additional picture to show the amount of hills I climbed 🙂

ZwiftInsider post 28sep20 (2).JPG
Thomas Christiansen
Thomas Christiansen
2 years ago
Reply to  Leo Missler

Leo Missler did you check the route desription above?

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!”

The first segment on your strava picture is also called Start Pen lead in. That’s the extra 108m.

Charlene
Charlene
3 years ago

hi eric! do you have a list of how many bidons apply to each route for paris and france? i want to do your route challenge and include these new routes!

caluwaerts g.
caluwaerts g.
3 years ago

what is stronger de ventoux or alphe de zwift??

david
david
3 years ago

are these maps still available on zwift or was that only for a limited time?

Vladimír Karban
Vladimír Karban(@demon2307)
3 years ago

Eric why do some maps appear so meaningless in GOOGLE MAPS ??? Maps are out of reality

J B
J B
3 years ago

This should be faster than Alpe to get the Tron bike, right?

Mirsad Kadic
Mirsad Kadic
3 years ago

just finished two full laps (30.30 miles 874 ft elevation) on Roule Ma Poule and no banner no completing the route
 I guess someone owe me a banner😠

ali
ali
2 years ago

Is there a way to see all the routes with the distance and elevation on one page for quickly figuring out what to ride? Thanks.

Smarty Smart
Smarty Smart(@martin-pelletier)
2 years ago

If I do La Reine in the TdZ, will I get the achievement for the Ven-Top course?

Steve
2 years ago

Strava killed Aqueduct KOM
https://www.strava.com/segments/24700976

Saillant
Saillant
2 years ago
Hello
What type of bike and wheels for the climb of the Ventoux
Thanks for your feedback
Shane spencer
Shane spencer
2 years ago

Did Ventoux yesterday and when it uploaded there was no time given. Gutted, it nearly killed me lol

Nick Kish
Nick Kish
2 years ago

The “Jump to …” section on all route map pages does not include the page for the French maps. Could you please update when you get a chance?

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
1 year ago

Brilliant resource and work by you all 👍👍👍

Darren marsden
Darren marsden
1 year ago

Think I got the wrong map , I did this map last night , I was still climbing the hills at nearly 8miles, and it said it was 38’6 miles long ,

Last edited 1 year ago by Darren marsden
Rajesh11
Rajesh11
9 months ago

What’d track have moresr segments for the short total distance..

Chris
Chris
6 months ago

How do I find when a Ven Top route is on?

Chris
Chris
6 months ago
Reply to  Chris

Are all the routes in in France available when France is a guest site , so if it says France then I can go to Mont Ventoux?

Peter Josefchak
Peter Josefchak
5 months ago

I just went to look up a route and it seems that all the routes in each world are fully opened. They used to be listed in alphabetical order and you just clicked to open the one you want. Did this change? Just curious…P.eter (72)

Jhon
Jhon
3 months ago

Hi guys! Im pretty new on Zwift. I´m trying to climb Col Du Tourmalet but I can´t find it. Its still available? Thanks.

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