“Radio Rendezvous” Route Details (Watopia)
Added in Zwift’s September 2024 update, this route features The Grade as its central climb. But it doesn’t stop there, as the route continues up the Epic KOM and finishes atop the dauntingly steep Radio Tower KOM!
This route is actually a solid option if you’re looking to complete The Grade as an FTP test, but want a route that offers a nice warmup prior to the max effort.
Added in Zwift’s September 2024 update, this route features The Grade as its central climb. But it doesn’t stop there, as the route continues up the Epic KOM and finishes atop the dauntingly steep Radio Tower KOM!
This route is actually a solid option if you’re looking to complete The Grade as an FTP test, but want a route that offers a nice warmup prior to the max effort.
Route Basics
Length: 20.4 km (12.7 miles)
Elevation: 728m (2,388′)
+3.1km (1.9 miles) lead-in with 8m (26′) elevation
Map: Watopia
ZIMetrics
Rating: 21.2/100 🛈
Time Estimates 🛈
4 W/kg: 52 minutes
3 W/kg: 61 minutes
2 W/kg: 84 minutes
Start & Finish
Starts at Acropolis Sprint, ends on Radio Tower KOM.
Format: Point-to-Point
Ride Achievement Badge: 410 XP
Run Achievement Badge: none
Strava Segments
Bike Selection
In a race, you’ll want a lightweight climbing setup for this route due to all the steep and long climbs. See this post to determine the fastest climbing frame and wheels available at your level.
Route Description
Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!
Radio Rendezvous begins from the Ciudad la Cumbre start pens if you’re in an event, or from the Acropolis Sprint banner when free riding. You’ll travel along the southern coast road toward the Jungle, then turn right to head up the back-to-back KOMs (Mayan Mountainside and Itza).
Neither of these climb segments are particularly steep or long, making them great warmup climbs if you’re loosening your legs for an attempt at The Grade as an FTP test.
Once you finish the Itza KOM the road turns right to head downhill to the Ciudad la Cumbre roundabout. Spin your legs and catch your breath because The Grade awaits!
Related Review: Zwift’s New “The Grade” FTP Test >
Go as hard as you’d like up The Grade. It serves as an FTP test if that’s what you’re looking for, but you can do it at an easier pace as well.
Once you reach the top, you’ll turn left to continue up the last ~3km of the Epic KOM. Wave hello to the Ibex who’s cheering you on as you ride through the Epic KOM arch, then get ready for one more effort! You’ll be turning left soon enough to begin the final climb of the day, up the icy road to the top of the Radio Tower KOM.
This is the steepest climb in all of Watopia, and it’s not short, either. Keep the watts up, see if you can catch a rider up the road, and know that a long descent awaits. Allez allez!
Ouch, this is a route that will sting a bit! But a good one for climbing/interval training or some hard racing.
If you think this route is tough I wouldn’t look at the new Power to the Tower route. Its basically double the climbing and distance.
yes, I did that one today. Just az2 roll though, but over 5,000 ft climbing. I plan on doing the Radio Ronddezvous on Tuesday. Part of it will be a vo2 work out. I hope I have enough gas to get up the tower after the work out.
Which sadist decided it would be best to turn *right* after the Itza KQOM?!?
I’m fine with that bit, it’s the u-turn at the bottom that worries me
I sure was surprised seeing Kom on anything zwift related. Now it makkes sense, route is brand spanking new!😂😁
I rode it yesterday so definitely in game :-).
Thanks Zwift Insider for the new Time Estimate feature – I know it’s going to be at least 90 mins for me which is way better than Zwift – saying “60 mins or less for most riders”😲
ZI metrics? Thats new. I assume a new blog post coming soon explaining it!
Yup!
Did this route yesterday lunch time whilst doing a workout. Very tough
Was the route tough it was the workout tough? If your workout was a tempo one then you would have found the route easy. If though you did VO2 or Zthreshold efforts in the workout then your experience of the route would have been completely different.
I did this today and found it to be most enjoyable. I turned my ride into a full blown fun fest by heading over to the volcano climb and pushing the total feet climbed to just a pinch over 3000. I figured after I came down the radio tower, I was kind of in the area so why not.
Brilliant route for an assault on the grade. For me at roughly 2w/kg warming up it gave me about half an hour to set me up to properly attack the grade
Is something wrong with the route description or with the Strava segment? The Strava segment starts from the opening of the ride – there is no 1.9mi lead in