“Temples and Towers” Route Details (Makuri Islands)
When it was introduced in Zwift’s November 2021 update, Temples and Towers was the biggest Makuri Islands route, both in elevation and distance. It no longer holds that title, but it still takes you up all three KOMs: Rooftop, Castle, and Temple.
When it was introduced in Zwift’s November 2021 update, Temples and Towers was the biggest Makuri Islands route, both in elevation and distance. It no longer holds that title, but it still takes you up all three KOMs: Rooftop, Castle, and Temple.
Route Basics
Length: 32.6 km (20.3 miles)
Elevation: 280 m (919‘)
Lead-In: 0.8 km (0.5 miles)
Map: Makuri Islands
Start & Finish
Begins and ends at a virtual arch north of the Neo Arcade
Achievement Badge: 650 XP
Sprint & KQOM Segments |
| Rooftop KOM (1.9km, 2.7%) |
| Castle KOM (2.5km, 2.1%) |
| Temple KOM (2.5km, 3.6%) |
Strava Segments
Route Description
Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!
The route begins near the Neo Arcade in Neokyo, where we head beneath The Overpass and up onto the monorail track so we can begin the twisty Rooftop KOM. This is a technical KOM with constantly-changing road pitches and scenery – getting your best time here requires heads-up riding and of course, hard effort!
Once you’re through the Rooftop KOM banner it’s time for a twisty descent, then you’ll make your way out of Neokyo. Past the Clifftop Shrine and into Yumezi Tunnel, you may just find yourself blinking in the sunlight of Yumezi as you exit the other side.
Enjoy the flats of the farmlands for a bit, then you’ll climb up the Castle KOM before heading across to start the dirt Temple KOM from the Fishing Village side.
Once you’re through the Temple KOM banner in the Giant Mystical Tree it’s a dirt descent back to the Castle area and onto the road you came in on. Through Yumezi tunnel into Neokyo’s permanight, and your virtual finish line is just up the road!
Would this be a gravel bike route with the constant surface changes or aero climbing set up the best for the route is a question? With the three climbs and descents mainly not on pavement. With the only pavement sections on flats.
2 out of 3 descents are on pavement. I’d go with an aero/climbing setup.
Only the temple climb/kom is on dirt.
2/3 climbs are on tarmac so aero is probs best set up
Sounds like a Tron route for sure.
I just did the Neokyo badge hunters series on this (stage 4). Everyone in my 2nd group was on road bikes. No swaps. The gravel bike would be fastest on the climb, the mountain bike on the descent, the gravel probably fastest overall. But there’s the pesky issue of the final 5 km or so to the finish. Riding solo or in a scattered group, trying to save energy, I’d switch to the gravel bike on the first rise after it turns to dirt @ km 20.4 or so, then probably stick to that to the finish. Without a gravel… Read more »
there are 3 climbs, only one is gravel… no way gravel is fastest overall, you would likely lose your group on all the pavement before you even get to it
Really depends on the level of the Race I think.
C level races, the bike swap for gravel climb is going to be the way to go. B upwards the benefit is lesser.
Hi Eric!
The Neokyo Badge Hunt page describes this route with 689,2m elevation, here is it 318m.
If I watch the route on veloviewer the two climbs goes up to something like 200m and 283m, maybe in total 500-550.
What is correct?
By the way: great site! Thank you!
All the best
Roland
Based on Veloviewer and Strava, total elevation gain is only 280m. See https://veloviewer.com/segment/30408107
Allright, so it´s possible to go more easy for all badges 😅!
Any tests on the fastest setup here?
Yes. its the scott addict w/ enve 8.7 wheelset or dt swiss. Not the tron, not the grail. This. Bike.
The fastest way to ride this course is to take advantage of the glitch when in meetup mode with keep everyone together selected. No matter the effort or incline, it keeps a rider at 44 kmph. It’s a thing.
LOL, I just stumbled across this thread/comment and that explains a mystery I’ve noticed on some ridiculous Strava segment times I’m seeing within my local Strava club. I’m seeing some clubmates who in real life can barely handle 1.5-2.0 w/kg flying up Alpe, Box Hill, etc. at 40+ kph during meetups and barely elevated HR’s and negligible w/kg during the segment times.
Hi Eric, I plan on riding this route tomorrow in the MAAP tour. I am level 50 with just about every frame and wheels in “my garage”. I have not been on this route to date so would like to ask you what is the fastest frame and wheels for this as I plan on racing. Thank you, Kris
Scott addict RC due to the climbing with steeper gradient sections. But all around aero wheels for the flat parts between the climbs and to route finish.
Thank you!
Hey Eric. I believe the provided screenshot from Zwifthub is incorrect: it says this route contains Temple KOM Reverse, but it should be the “normal” KOM.