All About this Weekend’s Giro di Castelli

Zwift has announced the Giro di Castelli, a 3-stage event happening this weekend. Official Zwift stage events are always popular, so expect big groups!

Is it a race? Zwift says no, but there will be plenty of riders treating each stage as a race. Find a group riding at your pace and enjoy the challenge and camaraderie.

Groups and Times

Each stage has 5-6 event times to accommodate everyone’s schedule (see schedule). Additionally, riders must select a group when signing up for each stage. This dictates which route you ride:

• A Group: long distance, men and women
• B Group: short distance, men and women
• C Group: short distance, women only

Unlocks

There are three different Giro di Castelli kits, one for each stage. You will unlock each kit upon completing each stage. Here’s a preview:

Stage 1: Bologna

It’s a Giro, so it’s fitting that we start in Bologna, site of the Giro d’Italia prologue time trial stage in 2019.

• A Group (2 laps): 24.6km (15.3 miles), 495m (1627′) elevation. Note: 2 laps on Bologna means you ride up to the finish line, back to the start, then up to the finish once more.
• B and C Groups (1 lap): 8km (5 miles), 230m (757′) elevation

While this stage is on the Bologna TT course, it doesn’t appear to be a TT event. We recommend finding a bike frame and wheelset that lets you climb quickly because that’s where this course really gets challenging!

• Learn more about the Bologna TT route >
• See event schedule >

Stage 2: Watopia Flat (Reverse)

This stage is nice and flat, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy! Find a pace you can manage, and use the draft to conserve energy.

• A Group (4 laps): 41.2km (25.6 miles), 216m (708′) elevation.
• B and C Groups (2 laps): 20.6km (12.8 miles), 108m (354′) elevation

• Learn more about the Watopia Flat route >
• See event schedule >

Stage 3: Epic KOM

The Queen Stage of this tour, stage 3 has each group going over the Epic KOM. The B and C groups get the added joy of ascending to the Radio Tower!

• A Group: 1 lap of Big Loop route – 42.4km (26.6 miles), 651m (2175′) elevation
• B Group: 1 lap of Mountain route – 29.5km (18.3 miles), 671m (2201′) elevation
• C Group: 1 lap of Mountain 8 route – 32km (19.9 miles), 677m (2221′) elevation

See event schedule >