Watopia’s “Mega Pretzel” was released with Zwift’s February 1, 2018 update as the longest available route for Zwift’s iconic course. At the time of its release it covered every segment of the course except the radio tower climb, and in fact covered nearly all segments in both directions. The Alpe du Zwift climb is notably absent from this route since the Alpe was released after the route was created.
Watopia’s “Mega Pretzel” was released with Zwift’s February 1, 2018 update as the longest available route for Zwift’s iconic course. At the time of its release it covered every segment of the course except the radio tower climb, and in fact covered nearly all segments in both directions. The Alpe du Zwift climb is notably absent from this route since the Alpe was released after the route was created.
Route Basics
Length: 107 km (66.5 miles)
Elevation: 1642 m (5,387‘)
Lead-In: 3.7 km (2.3 miles)
Map: Watopia
Start & Finish
This route is a bit weird. When free riding, you'll start on the Volcano land bridge road. Events start in the downtown start pen. The route ends on the Volcano land bridge road, as you ride through the crumbling concrete arches heading toward the Italian Villas.
Restriction: Level 5+
Achievement Badge: 2140 XP
Strava Segments
BestBikeSplit Model
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Route Description
Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!
The Mega Pretzel begins and ends on the land bridge connecting the volcano to the Italian Villas. The segments covered, in order, are:
- Begin on Volcano land bridge to Italian Village
- Jungle Circuit reverse
- Epic KOM reverse
- Hilly forward
- Volcano climb
- Esses forward
- Ocean Blvd forward
- Epic KOM forward
- Jungle Circuit forward
- Hilly reverse
- Finish at start location
Why is this route soooooo much harder than every other route on Zwift? I’ve tried it five times this month and failed every time. This is the only route badge I’m missing, but the temperature inside here won’t get below 80 F (we live in a cheap house that we rent for $5000/month) for another 3 months as the nighttime low for June-September stays above 100 F. By the end of an hour in zone 2, my HR is already maxed out. I thought I’d get all the routes, but this is one I just don’t think is possible for… Read more »
The numbers above say the Mega Pretzel has a 2.3 mile lead in and a 66.5 mile course. That would make you need to ride 68.8 miles to get your badge. I was pleasantly surprised when I got my badge at 66.6 miles. I don’t know what part is off, but it’s not 68.8
I think they’ve adjusted the lead in since the article was written as I ha the same experience yesterday. I was expecting to have to do around 110k but then the achievement popped at 107k.
I suspect the lead-in caused unnecessary confusion, with riders assuming they had completed the route upon returning to the downtown finish banner: I rode it today and the start was in the road from the volcano, the route start. I suspect events would still start downtown, in the start pens.
Zwift routes tend to be very strange. Of course they could have started this downtown, and opened, rather than closing, with the volcano flat loop.
I suspect the lead-in caused unnecessary confusion, with riders assuming they had completed the route upon returning to the downtown finish banner: I rode it today and started in the road from the volcano, the route start. I suspect events would still start downtown, in the start pens.
Zwift routes tend to be very strange. Of course they could have started this downtown, and opened, rather than closing, with the volcano flat loop. I can’t imagine why they started where they did.
I’ve got to say, this is one boring ride, nobody rides that direction, jungle can be three or four minutes between riders, reverse kom is dead as well…I find it very hard to motivate myself when I’m on my own, I did sixty Kms today before boredom did for me, hopefully the last fifty is a bit busier, I’ll find out sometime this week, hopefully!…then I’ve got the joys of the Uber pretzel for my last badge…..
try to ride when the poms are up as there will be around 3000-6000 people online. otherwise like for me, if i ride in the morning there will sometimes be only 800 people online but if i ride in the afternoon or evening when its morning in london, there will be massive numbers of people online and not many dead routes.
Any recommendations on the best bike to use to for this. If not the Tron, what wheels with the non-Tron frame?
Probably best off switching bikes a few times during this route if possible. Cannondale Evo for the climbs and a mtb/gravel bike for the jungle.
Thanks, Zach. Planning to ride this route as part of the Fondo this weekend, so not sure I can change bikes without losing the draft. If I can change, I certainly will, but wondering what the best single bike would be for this route.
The Jungle Circuit does present a problem as Zwift Mountain bike is ideal for that section. I too am considering this going with SPECIALIZED TARMAC PRO & ENVE SES 3.4 (unless you have the MEILENSTEIN wheelset
Michael, agreed. I have that set up and am contemplating it as well. Not sure of the net differences of any bike on this ride given it has dirt, climbing and rollers. I might just go with the Tron and see if others want to change for the Jungle circuit.
2,140 xp or a fondo kit? That’s the debate. Either way, I don’t want to do this again. Too bad we don’t get both…OR DO WE?
My understanding (hope?) is that we get both. Only doing for the route badge
Brian I did go with Tron bike after all. Hardest part actually was the 2 stints in the Jungle…couple riders rode Mtn bikes for the whole ride (which to me would be rough 🙂 — good luck
Th DT Swiss wheel set now has the same climb time as the ENVE, yet the DT Swiss is better on the flat, so consider that combo with the Spec Tarmac Pro.
Here is what I learned from completing it today. consider my point of view..my goal was completion, I’m 203lbs and 48yrs old. you get the badge and credit and the massive 2,400+XP for the route. changing bikes for the jungle is an energy saver, my visual estimation is 1/2 to 3/4 watt savings but over the distance, it helps i could only make 1 bike change and did it for the 1st jungle loop because you have 2 BIG BIG koms coming. switch to a MTB and NOT a gravel YOU CAN and WILL make it. No need to be… Read more »
I ended up switching to the mtb for first jungle section as I’d had to stop anyway to sort my internet out. Did first half with the Trek Emonda & Enve wheels then switched to the Canyon Aeroroad & Zipps later on before Epic KOM. Dunno if that helped but I was clutching at straws to try and keep going, found this one really tough 🙁
What’s the best bike and wheels for this route?
I don’t know if this is the right place to say my thanks for the wonderful event today. It was my first badge hunter event and I enjoyed it very much.
So with my newly achieved Mega Pretzel badge I must say thanks again and again for the opportunity to ride with you all🤩
This one was brutal!
So much dirt, and two rounds of jungle is just enraging!
Switched the second time around and it probably did a minute or so. Was relieved there was no tower climb as I thought it would have had at least one. Hell I’ll take a tower climb over the jungle dirt!
I’m completing it for 4th time and agree it is brutal. Found PRL full and Uber pretzel to be slightly more tolerable.