Zwift has just announced this year’s Off the MAAP series, a multi-stage cycling tour returning for its fourth year to the platform. This series targets Australia (where MAAP is based), but event times open it up to riders worldwide.
Thanks to a fun mix of courses and kit unlocks this series is always very popular, with hundreds of thousands having participated over the years. Each stage is based on a different theme and includes three different route options.
Learn more and sign up at zwift.com/offthemaap
Route and Schedule Details
Each of the 4 stages lasts 4-5 days. Events are scheduled throughout the day for the duration of each stage, so you’ll certainly be able to find a ride that fits your schedule. Each stage gives you the option of three different routes, with A being the more difficult route, B a bit easier, C easier still, and D being the same as B except it’s for women only.
Registration opens July 25th at zwift.com/offthemaap.
Stage 1: Temp Check (Aug 1-5)
With routes that can be easily finished by riders of all levels, this first stage is a bit of a warm-up. Get those legs spinning, unlock the headband, and set your sights on the next three stages!
- A: Makuri Islands Wandering Flats, 1 Lap (26.1km, 145m)
- B: France R.G.V., 1 Lap (24.1km, 107m)
- C: London Classique, 2 Laps (16.5km, 38m)
- D (Women Only): France R.G.V., 1 Lap (24.1km, 107m)
Stage 2: Turn the Heat Up (Aug 6-9)
As we add elevation and length to our routes, things get a bit more serious. We’re in the tropics for this stage, riding in Makuri Islands, Zwift’s newest map.
- A: Makuri Islands Temple and Towers, 1 Lap (32.6km, 280m)
- B: Makuri Islands Castle to Castle, 1 Lap (22.4km, 139m)
- C: Makuri Islands Flatland Loop, 1 Lap (13km, 99m)
- D (Women Only): Makuri Islands Castle to Castle, 1 Lap (22.4km, 139m)
Stage 3: Cloud Hopping (Aug 10-13)
Stage 3 is the Queen Stage, the toughest of our four stages thanks to plenty of climbing. Are you ready to go up-up-up? Be sure to grab a climbing bike from your Zwift garage (read “Fastest Climbing Bike Frames and Wheels at Each Zwift Level“).
- A: Innsbruck Achterbahn, 1 Lap (47.4km, 973m)
- B: Watopia Climber’s Gambit, 1 Lap (27.9km, 670m)
- C: Watopia Volcano Climb, 1 Lap (22.8km, 192m)
- D (Women Only): Watopia Climber’s Gambit, 1 Lap (27.9km, 670m)
Stage 4: Victory Lap (Aug 14-17)
You did it! Welcome to the final stage, where you’ll ride multiple laps of short routes. Treat it like a criterium race, treat it like a social spin. The important thing is to finish and unlock that sweet Off the MAAP kit!
- A: Paris Champs-Élysées, 7 Laps (49.4km, 238m)
- B: Makuri Islands Neokyo Crit Course, 8 Laps (31.2km, 120m)
- C: Crit City Bell Lap, 9 Laps (17.1km, 72m)
- D (Women Only): Makuri Islands Neokyo Crit Course, 8 Laps (31.2km, 120m)
Make-Up Stages
If you miss a stage, make-ups will be scheduled from August 18-22 AEST.
Sign up at zwift.com/offthemaap
Is this a race?
Not officially – Off the MAAP events are set up as group rides and won’t count toward ZwiftPower ranking points. That said, it only takes two riders on the same route to make a race!
Many riders will be racing these events, and if you want to go hard you are free to do so. But be warned: categories are for course selection only, and have no w/kg boundaries.
Kit Unlocks
There are three separate unlocks for this series: a headband, socks, and the new 2022 MAAP kit:
- Finish 1 stage to unlock the headband
- Finish 2 stages to unlock the socks
- Finish all 4 stages to unlock the kit (jersey + bibs)
Like the in-game kit? Series finishers (all 4 stages) will be sent a link where they can purchase the exclusive IRL kit from MAAP:
Questions or Comments?
Share below!
Based in the UK and Zwift wont even let me look at their web page for MAAP?
Should be visible now… at least, I’m seeing it! https://www.zwift.com/offthemaap
I wonder why it says “Your profile is not eligible for registration, please update your info in profile to continue.”
any reason why it says that…
“This series targets Australia (where MAAP is based), but event times open it up to riders worldwide.” – maybe restricting to only folk in Oz?
Nah, it’s open to everyone. I just registered…
I believe that is just the error that is constantly presented before sign up “officially opens.” I’ve seen this happen quite a few times with previous series.
“Registration opens July 25th at zwift.com/offthemaap.” – it’s in the article.
I registered yesterday July 18th despite the “mention from July 25th”.
Why? Because it’s Zwift!
Yep. Despite my best attempts to get Zwift to share accurate info with me, so I can share it others… this happens quite consistently.
Everyone, registration should be available from 1500 UTC.
I’ll have the events posted by the end of today.
Am trying to register for today’s ride but can only see options for tomorrow. Is registration closed for today?
I logged into the game and the MAAP mission is in the upper left corner of the home screen. I clicked on it, it said Register at the bottom of the pop-out and I clicked on that. It says I am now Checked In.
Events now live for signing up to!
Fine work, old boy. Fine work!
with hundreds of thousands participating each year!……Really though?
Well, that’s what Zwift said in 2021, about 2020 (which was the height of Covid). So… probably not that many this year, I suppose. I’ll edit it.
Ah, Zwift PR….that explains it! 😱
Thanks Eric. Looking forward to the events, always a good looking kit.
Pink jersey with green bibs? I wonder how Rapha/EF feel about that
They must be furious, as they have rights to those colors…. Ummm
Eric, when would we expect the Colnago Le Col series, also known as three days of pain ?
Thx
Hi, I’m looking at the events of august 10th:
Facts for Category D: Climber’s Gambit,
but under description i find
Category D route: Muir and the mountain.
It’s Climber’s Gambit.
I was hoping they’d bring back that cool hat.
Finished 3 stages, but no kit. I guess it will turn up eventually.
Same thing happened to me, I completed it last night but no notification. I joined late (missed roughly 2k) so wasn’t sure if that was the reason or not.
The kit isn’t unlocked after three stages, the information here is incorrect. I contacted Zwift support and they say that the kit is unlocked after stage 4.
I’ll update the post above. All I can go off of is what Zwift tells me, and no matter how many times I tell them “Please give me correct info, your unlocks never work the way you say they will and it frustrates people…” I still get incorrect info. 🙂
I’m not sure why it’s so difficult, but there must be some issue with how things are configured that makes it confusing on their end.
No worries Eric, it must be very frustrating dealing with them. Them seem to have taken a step back from engaging with the community in general.
On a related note, they made it impossible to order the IRL kit. No completion e-mail from Zwift, even though there is some stipulation to sign up for Zwift e-mails (I have been for years), and there are no links anywhere on the OtM pages to do such a thing, so the kit remains locked on the Maap website.
The Maap staff were really helpful though.
Hi Eric, I joined late on stage 3 A last night (I missed around 2k and didn’t get the notification after the ride that I unlocked the kit and it didn’t register that I completed 3 of the 4 stages on Zwift Home Screen. Do you happen to know if you have to complete the WHOLE ride to get the kit unlocked/have it count towards the stage count? I’m just curious as I don’t mind doing it again but thought I’d ask real quick.
Cheers,
Chris
Great job Eric! Absolutely luv this Off the Maap event & I nearly missed it as I was travelling. It’s always a treat to get some new kit, virtual or otherwise. Thanks for all your efforts. 🙂👍
Prices for the real life kit seem a bit steep…have the 20 and 21 kits. I am going to pass on this one. Would have been nice to get a discount or some acknowledgement for our support for the brand.
I agree. Would love to see finishers get a discount code. Seems sensible!
Is there a schedule for the make-up ride. I need stage 2, which I thought was going to be at 4, but I could not find it.
Make-up rides ended today. I think they’re all finished at this point.
Unlock Exclusive Kits
Complete Stage 1 and unlock the Off The MAAP 2024 Kit. The more you ride, the more you unlock—socks, caps, jersey, and the IRL kit from MAAP too!
so no Headband?