Zwifters have been asking one question repeatedly since last Friday’s game update. And that question is simply, “When can we ride the new France and Paris maps?”
There are actually four different approaches you can take to accessing these new routes – each comes with its own dates and other details.
#1: L’Etape du Tour
The second stage of l’Etape du Tour will be held on France’s Casse-Pattes route – a large loop covering most of the new France map’s roads. (It only leaves out the road up Mont Ventoux, and a windy middle section of roads which I’ve been calling the “Balloon Fields” since it features hot air balloons and a “Ballon Sprint” section.)
This second stage has 16 time slots over the weekend, beginning at 10pm PDT July 10th (that’s 1am July 11 EDT, or 6am July 11 BST). To take part, just sign up for a l’Etape du Tour stage 2 event that fits your schedule!
Zwift has set up a series of “Virtual Tour de France Discovery Rides” which run throughout the week replicating each of the two stages the pros raced the prior weekend.
Sources inside Zwift tell us the plan is for the new France and Paris maps to be worked into the guest world calendar. But they’re not saying precisely when that will happen. Will we see France and Paris available as a guest map as soon as the Virtual TdF ends? Or will it be a bit later?
Our guess is we’ll see France and Paris begin rotating in on August’s schedule. But we’ll just have to wait and see.
UPDATE: our sources inside Zwift are saying France and Paris should be in the guest world rotation on or around August 10th.
#4: World Hack
There are various hacks Zwifters can use to access off-schedule maps or event-only routes. The simple world tag hack has been known for years, used by thousands, and seems to be considered acceptable by Zwift HQ. Other hacks require a bit more skill and may be frowned upon by Zwift (although I’ve never heard of anyone actually getting in trouble for world or route hacking of any sort).
The world tag hack does not currently work for France or Paris. But there is a way to “schedule hack” and access France and Paris today if you’re on a Mac or PC. This explains how 83 people have already completed the grueling Mont Ventoux climb Strava segment!
I’m not going to spell this hack out for you, though – Google is your friend if you want to attempt it. Zwift HQ really wants people to first experience these new routes via official vTdF events – and rightly so. I won’t be the guy who spoils that!
Each year, L’Etape du Tour de France provides cyclists with the opportunity to get a slice of the Tour de France experience through a mass participation cyclo-sportive held on one of the Tour de France mountain stages. Around 15,000 lucky riders take part each year – and you have to see it to believe it!
This year, for the first time ever, Zwift is hosting the Virtual l’Etape du Tour de France as part of the virtual TdF. (Zwift hosted a single l’Etape du Tour event in 2019, but there was no corresponding virtual pro race.) This year’s Zwift event series will allow participants to test themselves on the same (virtual) roads as the professionals, like the outdoor event, but across three stages instead of just one.
Ride New French Roads
There’s been a lot of chatter in the past few days about Zwift’s new France and Paris maps. Zwifters keep asking the same question: when can I ride the new roads?
Stage 2 of L’Tape du Tour is your first chance, so mark your calendar for July 11-12!
Stage Details
Three stages will be held over the first three weekends of July alongside the virtual TdF. The stages get progressively more difficult each weekend, culminating in the massive Mont Ventoux climb on stage 3.
16 different events will be spread over each weekend, so Zwifters should be able to find a time slot to fit their schedule. Here are the stage details:
The L’Etape du Tour events have just two categories to choose from:
A: Women Only
E: Open (Men and Women)
These categories aren’t based on ability in any way – they simply allow the ladies to ride in a women’s-only event if desired.
Is it a race? Only if you want it to be! Keep in mind you’ll be competing against the full spectrum of riders, not just a typical race category (B, C, etc). Make it your personal challenge just to finish a stage, or race all three – it’s up to you!
ZwiftPower for Racers
If you’re planning on racing, be sure you’re signed up for ZwiftPower beforehand since the general classification results (cumulative time) across stages will only be available on ZwiftPower.
Follow the instructions under “Getting Started” here to get signed up for ZwiftPower.
At the time of this post, the L’Etape du Tour events are set up so all riders are placed on the Trek Madone frame. This is due to partnership/sponsorship deals with ASO, and the good news is the Madone is a very aero frame.
But it leaves us wondering: why not at least give us the Emonda (a better climber) for the final Mont Ventoux stage?
Double Draft
These events are set to run in double draft mode, which hasn’t been used much lately for big Zwift events. If you’re not familiar with double draft, it’s a stronger draft effect more akin to what you would experience in outdoor riding.
This will help packs stay together on the flats, since the faster pack speeds in double draft mode make it harder for strong riders to stay away – at least until the climbs begin!
Kit Unlock
Finish just one Virtual l’Etape du Tour de France stage to unlock the virtual Rapha l’Etape kit, seen here:
This page includes basic details for all routes on Zwift’s Paris world. For additional route details, click the corresponding link to be taken to that route’s detail page.
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.
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: 155 m (509‘) Lead-In: 0.9 km (0.6 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 460XP
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.
This quick, flat loop is the “shortest” of France’s new routes (those released in April 2025) and covers all the new roads. (Yes, Macaron is shorter – but it’s event-only. And while Ven-10 is actually shorter in length, you’re climbing Ventoux the whole time, so it feels much longer!)
Route Basics
Length: 9.3 km (5.8 miles) Elevation: 49 m (161‘) Lead-In: 3.2 km (2.0 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 185XP
This quick, flat loop is the “shortest” of France’s new routes (those released in April 2025) and covers all the new roads. (Yes, Macaron is shorter – but it’s event-only. And while Ven-10 is actually shorter in length, you’re climbing Ventoux the whole time, so it feels much longer!)
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 km (14.9 miles) Elevation: 133 m (436‘) Lead-In: 0.2 km (0.1 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 480XP
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.
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, with fondos 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, with fondos held here on April 8th, the same day as Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift 2023.
This mostly flat figure 8 covers France’s new roads in a counter-clockwise direction while also climbing the Petit KOM and rolling through Les Intestins.
Route Basics
Length: 23.1 km (14.4 miles) Elevation: 243 m (797‘) Lead-In: 0.6 km (0.4 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 465XP
This mostly flat figure 8 covers France’s new roads in a counter-clockwise direction while also climbing the Petit KOM and rolling through Les Intestins.
This route is named after the famed Paris-Roubaix race which inspired its Zwifty cobbled roads. It begins with the tricky Les Intestines and settles into a flat, sprint-filled loop on France’s newer cobbled roads before finishing up the Petit KOM.
Route Basics
Length: 19.8 km (12.3 miles) Elevation: 241 m (791‘) Lead-In: 0.3 km (0.2 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 395XP
This route is named after the famed Paris-Roubaix race which inspired its Zwifty cobbled roads. It begins with the tricky Les Intestines and settles into a flat, sprint-filled loop on France’s newer cobbled roads before finishing up the Petit KOM.
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: 22.4 km (13.9 miles) Elevation: 1201 m (3,940‘) Lead-In: 0.4 km (0.2 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 460XP
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.
Added in April 2025 with several other routes in France’s first expansion, Knights of the Roundabout is unique in that it covers all of France’s “flatter” roads, avoiding only the Ventoux climb. Seen on an overhead map, this route covers four connected circuits.
Route Basics
Length: 51.2 km (31.8 miles) Elevation: 336 m (1,102‘) Lead-In: 3.2 km (2.0 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 1025XP
Added in April 2025 with several other routes in France’s first expansion, Knights of the Roundabout is unique in that it covers all of France’s “flatter” roads, avoiding only the Ventoux climb. Seen on an overhead map, this route covers four connected circuits.
While not the shortest route in Zwift (the Crit City routes are shorter), Macaron has the distinction of being the shortest point-to-point route in Zwift and the shortest route in France.
Route Basics
Length: 2.6 km (1.6 miles) Elevation: 15 m (49‘) Lead-In: 0 km ( miles) Map: France
Restriction: Event Only
Achievement Badge: 50XP
While not the shortest route in Zwift (the Crit City routes are shorter), Macaron has the distinction of being the shortest point-to-point route in Zwift and the shortest route in France.
Launching with Zwift Games 2026, this route begins from France’s newer Normandy start pens and covers a bit of the newer cobbled roads, as well as well-worn road sections including the Aqueduc, Les Intestins, and the Petit KOM.
Route Basics
Length: 30.6 km (19.0 miles) Elevation: 369 m (1,211‘) Lead-In: 0.2 km (0.1 miles) Map: France
Restriction: Event Only
Achievement Badge: 610XP
Launching with Zwift Games 2026, this route begins from France’s newer Normandy start pens and covers a bit of the newer cobbled roads, as well as well-worn road sections including the Aqueduc, Les Intestins, and the Petit KOM.
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.”Â
It covers all roads in both directions, except for the road up Mont Ventoux.
Route Basics
Length: 60.8 km (37.8 miles) Elevation: 483 m (1,585‘) Lead-In: 0.9 km (0.6 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 1220XP
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.”Â
It covers all roads in both directions, except for the road up Mont Ventoux.
Petite Douleur (“little pain”) is the smallest possible circuit on the France map. With each lap ending atop the Petite KOM, this would make a butt-kicker of a racecourse. The strongest riders can do the loop in under 20 minutes!
This began as a Rebel Route, then was added to the game for Tour de Zwift 2025.
Route Basics
Length: 13.9 km (8.6 miles) Elevation: 194 m (636‘) Lead-In: 10.9 km (6.8 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 280XP
Petite Douleur (“little pain”) is the smallest possible circuit on the France map. With each lap ending atop the Petite KOM, this would make a butt-kicker of a racecourse. The strongest riders can do the loop in under 20 minutes!
This began as a Rebel Route, then was added to the game for Tour de Zwift 2025.
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 km (14.9 miles) Elevation: 133 m (436‘) Lead-In: 0.9 km (0.6 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 480XP
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!
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: 155 m (509‘) Lead-In: 3.1 km (1.9 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 460XP
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.
With 11 sprint or KOM segments scattered across less than 36km, this is a segment-heavy route! True Zwift nerds will recognize that this route is simply the first half of Sacre Bleu. Read on for details…
Route Basics
Length: 35.2 km (21.9 miles) Elevation: 193 m (633‘) Lead-In: 2.6 km (1.6 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 705XP
With 11 sprint or KOM segments scattered across less than 36km, this is a segment-heavy route! True Zwift nerds will recognize that this route is simply the first half of Sacre Bleu. Read on for details…
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).Â
Route Basics
Length: 61 km (37.9 miles) Elevation: 483 m (1,585‘) Lead-In: 3.1 km (1.9 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 1220XP
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).Â
Essentially the little brother (half-brother?) of the big Ven-Top route, Ven-10 just does the first half of the Ventoux KOM while Ven-Top covers it completely.
Route Basics
Length: 10 km (6.2 miles) Elevation: 781 m (2,562‘) Lead-In: 1.4 km (0.9 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 200XP
Essentially the little brother (half-brother?) of the big Ven-Top route, Ven-10 just does the first half of the Ventoux KOM while Ven-Top covers it completely.
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: 0.2 km (0.1 miles) Map: France
Restriction: none
Achievement Badge: 420XP
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.
