Following up on April’s wildly popular Haute Route Watopia, Zwift + Haute Route have rolled out another big challenge which happens this weekend: the Virtual Haute Route Ventoux!
This tough three-stage event takes place entirely on Zwift’s France map, and features two stages which include all or part of Zwift’s virtual Mount Ventoux. (For anyone lucky enough to be riding in the real-life Haute Route Ventoux just two weeks after the virtual event, this will serve as a final test of fitness.)
In true Haute Route style, this is designed to be a challenging stage event. Competitors must complete all three stages on back to back days in order to officially finish. Each stage will be run across multiple time zones – see the event page on Zwift.com for schedule and signup.
A general classification on ZwiftPower will allow all entrants to track their performance across all three stages.
There will be no make-up days – stages must be completed back to back.
Stage Details
Over the course of three stages, participants will ride a total of 104.7km (65.1 miles) with 3,145m (10,319′) of climbing. These are double draft events.
Here are the routes for each stage (click for details):
Stage 1: Petit Boucle (61km/37.9 miles, 430m/1411')
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.
Related
Route Basics
Length: 61 km (37.9 miles) Elevation: 430 m (1,411‘) Lead-In: 1 km (0.6 miles) Map: France
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.
Aqueduc KOM
Mont Saint-Michel
Lavender fields
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.
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.
Related
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
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!)
8.5km in
Didi, 14.5km in
Stone bridge, 11.3km in
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!
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.)
Related
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.
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!
Didi, 1km from the finish
The finish at Chalet Reynard
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.)
Categories for the Virtual Haute Route Ventoux events are set up differently than what we typically see. Every event has A-E categories, but they are all for the same ability level and route. Basically, it appears Zwift has set it up this way so ride groups are smaller, since Zwifters on low-powered/older devices sometimes suffer from bugs or crashes in busy rides.
If your system bogs down when you’re in large group rides, join the category with the least number of riders. On the other hand, if you want to ride with the largest group possible, sign up for the category with the most riders!
Colnago E64
Prizes and Unlocks
Zwifters who complete any stage will unlock the exclusive Haute Route Ventoux kit by Le Col to wear with pride in the game.
You can purchase the real life kit from Le Col’s website, and you’ll earn exclusive Le Col discounts by completing stages. Complete every stage for the chance to win one of three spots at an outdoor 2021 Haute Route event or one of two Colnago e-bikes!
Haute Route has made a name for itself by creating challenging three and seven-day events in some of the world’s most iconic cycling destinations. Their events are essentially fully-supported stage races for passionate yet amateur cyclists. Some riders race the events, others seek to only challenge themselves, while others just want to enjoy the scenery. Some do all three!
Velo News says, “Haute Route events are at, or near, the pinnacle—for every pedal stroke on every stage—at offering the pro experience, both on and off the bike.”
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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Carolyn Audilet (@caudilet)
15 days ago
Thanks for the article! I’m confused though.What is the difference between the five categories for each stage? They’re all 1-5 wkg, 1 lap, coed.
I’m wondering whether entering the ‘wrong’ category (i.e. lower than your ZwiftPower category) will trigger a DQ, regardless of what’s on the Zwift site.
I’m looking forward to this one. One more on the categories… I look for the events with the most signups… so I can maintain that draft boost as long as possible. 7000 people helping out are better than 70!
Most of the events only had about 70 people….
Zwift totally screwed the pooch with this one. Split starts that created “fondo doping”, confusing categories.
Also it appears that the GC combined times on zwiftpower is totally non existent. The previous Haute Route had results for combined times GC up after the first event.
2/10 for this Haute Route version. Won’t be bothered doing it again if this is how it’s run next time.
Kevin Winters
14 days ago
Love the Haute Route events. The Watopia series in April was a brutal stretch but great for pushing yourself. Looking forward to France.
Warren
11 days ago
Joined the cat B today and averaged 4.0w/kg. Zwift then put me in the Cat A results board. However there were riders in the Cat B results board with higher w/kg than me (a few over 4.5w/kg too). So how does the categorisation of results in Zwift work?
Thank you but I wasn’t talking about the category you pick to join – I was asking about the category Zwift puts your results in immediately after you finish the race. Why did it put me in Cat A results but others stayed in Cat B?
the group you rode in has no bearing on the results. You go put in cat A because that’s your category. If you’ve been racing in B cat with that 4wkg avg over these events that go for more than 1 hour, you are sandbagging….
MHolden (@holdenadventures)
10 days ago
thanks Eric, 2 down 1 to go!!
Quick question. I use Zwift Power pretty regularly for my “real results” 😁but 2 questions:
1) I’m wondering if there are ways to see your overall results on a stage vs everyone else who has competed in that stage regardless of the time they competed.
2) Is there anyway to see combined results like GC standings. Out of the 500 people who completed all 3 stages, where would I rank?
(I recognize that this Haute Route would also be tricky considering the categories are all wonky and not based on power groupings.
thanks
No. That would totally defeat the idea of a GC event. Not that it matters given they don’t actually seem to have bothered setting the GC up on zwiftpower…
Strava Segments
Strava Segments
Thanks for the article! I’m confused though.What is the difference between the five categories for each stage? They’re all 1-5 wkg, 1 lap, coed.
I’m wondering whether entering the ‘wrong’ category (i.e. lower than your ZwiftPower category) will trigger a DQ, regardless of what’s on the Zwift site.
See note on categories above.
I’m sticking to A, it’s very confusing, and I want to be riding with the fastest riders. I’m betting they will be selecting A.
It’s a shame the groups won’t be as big though, that’s one of things that I like about these events
Totally agree. I love the super-large groups. I’ve been in events with 7000 people without any issues.
So it means beside that i should start with A category i can sign into D cat? Are all cat zwifters visible and we can in one group A+B+C+D?
Hi,what’s the difference between the A B C and D start groups with the same 1-5 watts/kg
Are one of the stages a time trial?
No
I’m looking forward to this one. One more on the categories… I look for the events with the most signups… so I can maintain that draft boost as long as possible. 7000 people helping out are better than 70!
Most of the events only had about 70 people….
Zwift totally screwed the pooch with this one. Split starts that created “fondo doping”, confusing categories.
Also it appears that the GC combined times on zwiftpower is totally non existent. The previous Haute Route had results for combined times GC up after the first event.
2/10 for this Haute Route version. Won’t be bothered doing it again if this is how it’s run next time.
Love the Haute Route events. The Watopia series in April was a brutal stretch but great for pushing yourself. Looking forward to France.
Joined the cat B today and averaged 4.0w/kg. Zwift then put me in the Cat A results board. However there were riders in the Cat B results board with higher w/kg than me (a few over 4.5w/kg too). So how does the categorisation of results in Zwift work?
(Categorisation for just the results of just this Haute Route event, I am asking?)
All of the cat’s where 1-5w/kg. Used to spread out the load on the system.
Thank you but I wasn’t talking about the category you pick to join – I was asking about the category Zwift puts your results in immediately after you finish the race. Why did it put me in Cat A results but others stayed in Cat B?
the group you rode in has no bearing on the results. You go put in cat A because that’s your category. If you’ve been racing in B cat with that 4wkg avg over these events that go for more than 1 hour, you are sandbagging….
thanks Eric, 2 down 1 to go!!
Quick question. I use Zwift Power pretty regularly for my “real results” 😁but 2 questions:
1) I’m wondering if there are ways to see your overall results on a stage vs everyone else who has competed in that stage regardless of the time they competed.
2) Is there anyway to see combined results like GC standings. Out of the 500 people who completed all 3 stages, where would I rank?
(I recognize that this Haute Route would also be tricky considering the categories are all wonky and not based on power groupings.
thanks
There should be a GC league in zwiftpower acoording to zwift and article but it does not appear to work.
I found this link. Is this what you are referring to?
https://zwiftpower.com/league.php?id=489
Zwift have screwed this royally, there is no Zwiftpower GC results.
Will this run again so we have another chance to complete?
No. That would totally defeat the idea of a GC event. Not that it matters given they don’t actually seem to have bothered setting the GC up on zwiftpower…