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    FeaturedReferenceHow Zwift Works

    Do you know about Zwift’s hidden PowerUp arches?

    Eric Schlange
    By Eric Schlange
    February 20, 2023
    44

    Most Zwifters understand at least the basics of how powerups work. You use the feather on climbs, the aero for sprinting, the burrito to make everyone hate you…

    More experienced Zwifters know routes well enough to remember where each sprint/KOM/lap arch is located, so they can use their powerups at the optimal time, especially in races. Example: racing Sand & Sequoias? You’ll get a powerup at the desert arch and atop Titans Grove KOM, so if you’ve got a feather and you’re climbing the KOM, use it before the top in hopes of getting a sprint-friendly powerup heading into the finish.)

    But today’s big question is… do you know about Zwift’s hidden powerup arches? (Zwift calls them “grant locations” internally, which is probably a better name since riding through this zone grants you a powerup even though there’s nothing visual – like an arch – indicating that it’s a special place.)

    I know of precisely 5 hidden grant locations in Zwift. It’s entirely possible there are others.

    Starting Ven-Top

    Just after you pass the France start pens, heading up Ventoux, you’ll pass a sort of driveway on your left. Our first hidden powerup grant location is just before this driveway:

    Ventoux Ride On Thumbs

    As you climb Ventoux, you’ll ride over Ride On thumbs painted on the tarmac, like so:

    Each of these grants a powerup, and by my count there are 3 of them as you climb the Giant of Provence. (You’ll also receive another powerup at the Chalet Reynard KOM banner.)

    Just a bit of bright sunlight peeking through the suffering as you climb Zwift’s tallest mountain!

    Glasgow Central Station

    Zwift’s new Scotland map has a hidden grant location at Glasgow’s Central Station:

    Why did Zwift insert this one? It certainly isn’t needed for the Glasgow Crit Circuit, which already has two arches per 3km lap. My theory is, Zwift added it so riders could get a useful powerup on the lead-in to City and the Sgurr.

    No Promises

    Since these grant locations are hidden and undocumented, I can’t promise they’ll always exist in game. In fact, just a few months ago there was a hidden grant point at the foot of Alpe du Zwift, and in putting together this article I discovered it had been removed from the game!

    Questions or Comments?

    Do you know of other hidden grant locations in Zwift? Share below!

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      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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      MHolden
      MHolden(@holdenadventures)
      1 month ago

      wow!! These are gems! Could be crazy in some races too!
      Are there still a ADZ power-ups on a timer?

      3
      Reply
      Jwiffle
      Jwiffle
      1 month ago
      Reply to  MHolden

      I don’t ever see the timers anymore, but they are still there (3 that I’m aware of). But in my experience, I have to be going at least fairly hard, or I don’t get them. You might have to be climbing at a minimum w/kg to get them.

      1
      Reply
      Jeff
      Jeff
      1 month ago
      Reply to  Jwiffle

      It’s in comparison to previous best efforts

      0
      Reply
      Scott McCauley
      Scott McCauley
      1 month ago

      Fascinating! Thank you.

      0
      Reply
      Mick Such
      Mick Such
      1 month ago

      Yeah I thought there was power ups on ADZ. Half way up and on a timer you got to beat. Haven’t riden ADZ lately so not sure there still operating.

      0
      Reply
      Markus
      Markus
      1 month ago

      There is one hidden place on Alpe du Zwift going up, in the large cave near the top and two or even three, not exactly sure, when going down. The last one near the end of the decent.
      At least the “downward” ones are coupled to invisible mini segments. With the introduction of the personal segment robo pacer, you can now spot them, since the robos spawn for a few seconds and disappear when you get the powerup.

      3
      Reply
      Kyle Bredesky
      Kyle Bredesky(@kylebredesky)
      1 month ago
      Reply to  Markus

      I have noticed this too!! Robopacers are revealing the secrets of Zwift!

      0
      Reply
      Randy Hermann
      Randy Hermann
      1 month ago
      Reply to  Markus

      I saw one at the exit of the tunnel on Segment 19 (? second segment in to the climb) during the FRR race this morning, in addition to the one near the top. No powerups in the event so each Thumb was an XP boost.

      -1
      Reply
      Colin Jones
      Colin Jones
      1 month ago
      Reply to  Markus

      There is also one just before you start the The Alp climb

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      1 month ago
      Reply to  Colin Jones

      Not anymore, Colin. As mentioned above… I tested it here and it wasn’t happening anymore!

      1
      Reply
      Johnny Q
      Johnny Q
      27 days ago
      Reply to  Markus

      I just went up the Alpe for the first time in over 90 days so all the powerups were given to me. They are at the end of the tunnel/avalanche barrier, at the log truck, and in the cave near the top. Thumbs-up are painted on the tarmac at each location.

      2
      Reply
      Someone
      Someone
      1 month ago

      At least 2, i think maybe more on alpe climb.

      0
      Reply
      Emilio Lence
      Emilio Lence
      1 month ago

      I knew the ones climbing the Ventoux, and their approximate locations. But I never realize that they coincided with a thumb rode-on painted on the road. Next time I will check.

      0
      Reply
      Ali Stewart
      Ali Stewart
      1 month ago

      I thought there was one on the Alpe as you pass under the crane lifting logs, but it’s been a while so that may no longer be there

      0
      Reply
      Adrien
      Adrien
      1 month ago
      Reply to  Ali Stewart

      It’s still there. As of 3 days ago at least!

      0
      Reply
      Ian
      Ian
      1 month ago

      Alpe has 3, 1st just after the tunnel after corner 20, then just under the lumber tractor( can’t remember the corner) then after the caves past the yeti, they all seem to be linked to your previous best time, so you have to go harder each time to get the power ups

      2
      Reply
      Jimmy
      Jimmy
      1 month ago
      Reply to  Ian

      I was always puzzled why I’d sometimes get them and other times not. Only just found out about being linked to your best time.

      1
      Reply
      Erland J
      Erland J
      1 month ago

      Off topic, but where are the “How the race was won/lost” reports, Eric? There are a lot of good articles coming each week, but your race reports are missed.

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      1 month ago
      Reply to  Erland J

      Ah, thanks Erland! It’s sort of a combination of two things – one, I’ve had a LOT of posts to write on other topics… and second, I just haven’t felt like I had any real interesting stories to tell from my recent races.

      Hopefully I’ll get one done soon.

      2
      Reply
      Ronald
      Ronald
      1 month ago

      Really enjoyed the hidden one in Glasgow in race 3 of the UCI series. When you binned the burrito you received 250xp in the “gem” and an extra 250 a top of the kicker. So an extra 500xp/ lap

      1
      Reply
      ben goodfellow
      ben goodfellow
      1 month ago
      Reply to  Ronald

      Are you sure it was 250xp? Normal would be 10xp with the 250xp being very rare.

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      1 month ago
      Reply to  ben goodfellow

      It was the big one, Ben. Some sort of bug. People got a LOT of XP in those Worlds Experience events!

      0
      Reply
      Emilio Lence
      Emilio Lence
      1 month ago

      I can confirm the one in Glasgow Central Station. I did the iTT in City and Sgurr, and not only got a powerup the first time a pass there, but also after finishing the TT when I was free riding on Glasgow city.

      0
      Reply
      Jen Buckley
      Jen Buckley
      1 month ago

      Sorry I can’t be more specific, but there was a grant location on a London route, unless you find it first, I’ll post when I rediscover

      0
      Reply
      Claus Jensen
      Claus Jensen
      1 month ago
      Reply to  Jen Buckley

      I remember there being one in London as well – somewhere along the river….

      0
      Reply
      Colin Peerman
      Colin Peerman
      1 month ago
      Reply to  Claus Jensen

      it was just before the bridge where you turn left for Box Hill, (just after Big Ben)

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      1 month ago
      Reply to  Colin Peerman

      It’s not there anymore – I just checked with my bot!

      0
      Reply
      JThayer
      JThayer
      1 month ago

      I can remember being surprised by getting a power up on the larger loop in London (if you were going counter-clockwise, it was a bit before you turned left at the Thames.) But that was a long time ago and I haven’t encountered it since then.

      0
      Reply
      Ann B
      Ann B
      1 month ago

      Ha! This must explain what happened last night on the Ride Scotland Muckle Vin route. Someone nearing the end offered to give away an unneeded truck powerup. I was still 2.5 km from the end and climbing so suggested he give it a good toss if he could get it back that far. He said he’d just leave it at the end for me. All fun banter, but right after that, a truck powerup “magically” appeared. I felt like the Zwift gods were monitoring messages and granted me a favor.

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      1 month ago
      Reply to  Ann B

      Ha!

      0
      Reply
      Emilio Lence
      Emilio Lence
      26 days ago

      About the Ride on inthe Ven Top. They give 4, I do not know if in the map Eric drow the last one is in the end of the La Reine, or the one that it’s around 1.5 km after that one.
      Also, whne doing La Reine route yesterday, after passsing the Petit KOM and turned left into the Vetoux, a few metres after that, I got a powerup as well.

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      26 days ago
      Reply to  Emilio Lence

      Emilio – are you sure you’re not talking about the powerups you get at the visible arches? End of Petit KOM and end of La Reine both have arches…

      1
      Reply
      Emilio Lence
      Emilio Lence
      26 days ago
      Reply to  Eric Schlange

      The one that is 1.5 km after La Reine arch I’m sure, because I took notes of the Ven-Top climb. Apart from the inclination, powerups were given in four places on the climb: at 12.8, 8.6, 6.0 (la Reine arch) and 4.5 km to the top.
      The other one, I’m doubting myself because was very close after the Petit KOM, normally at that point I still haven’t use the powerup. But on Sunday Flamme Rouge world tour a 10 XP was given in all arches, that is how I found it. But I’ll check again.

      0
      Reply
      Xavier
      Xavier
      25 days ago
      Reply to  Emilio Lence

      There is indeed one right after the left turn, shortly after petit KOM banner, but not the same one.

      0
      Reply
      James
      James
      24 days ago

      I got 3 power ups this morning completing the Volcano KOM (as opposed to just the one at the top) riding with a pace partner. There are broken arches all the way up that climb, not sure if they coincided with those at all – I wasn’t paying much attention as wasn’t expecting it!

      0
      Reply
      Tim
      Tim
      24 days ago
      Reply to  James

      There was a minor update to zwift today, and it seems to have created a bunch of hidden power up locations when riding with pace partners at least. I got a few extra powerups riding with coco on tick tock today.

      0
      Reply
      Carl
      Carl
      23 days ago

      Yesterday I did 2 laps of Tick Tock and each time entering Tempus Fugit just before turning right and starting the sprint I would get a power-up. This has never happened before. Not sure if it’s a glitch or a new hidden arch

      0
      Reply
      Tim
      Tim
      23 days ago
      Reply to  Carl

      I’m guessing its a new feature of the minor update released data. See comment directly above yours.

      1
      Reply
      Claus Jensen
      Claus Jensen
      23 days ago

      As others have mentioned, new “hidden arches” have been added with the latest updates – I have received power-ups a couple of times on sequoia circle and after descending from the Hilly KOM (Just before the bridge)…

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      23 days ago
      Reply to  Claus Jensen

      I asked Zwift about this today – they confirmed this is a temporary “feature” heading into Tour of Watopia, which will have all those extra powerup grant locations.

      These will go away after ToW. Enjoy them while you’ve got ’em!

      2
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      23 days ago

      Regarding the new powerup grant locations in Watopia – please read this: https://zwiftinsider.com/extra-watopia-powerups/

      0
      Reply
      Ernesto
      Ernesto
      20 days ago

      Excellent information. Good to know about “secret” power ups. I’ve said it before and I will say it again. If Zwift is a religion, then Zwift Insider is its Bible and Eric its High Priest.

      0
      Reply
      Ken
      Ken
      20 days ago

      There are two in the tick Tock route.

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      20 days ago
      Reply to  Ken

      Three, actually! Those are new… and temporary. See https://zwiftinsider.com/extra-watopia-powerups/

      0
      Reply
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