“The Pretzel” Route Details (Watopia)
When this route was released it was the longest and most challenging on Zwift, covering all segments in Watopia at least twice. With new roads and routes added since its creation, The Pretzel is no longer the longest or toughest route. But it still packs a punch at 44.8 miles (72.1km) in length with 4,375′ (1333m) of elevation gain.
Route Basics
Length: 72.9 km (45.3 miles)
Elevation: 1362m (4,469′)
Map: Watopia
ZIMetrics
Rating: 45.1/100 🛈
Time Estimates 🛈
lead-in + first lap
4 W/kg: 124 minutes
3 W/kg: 139 minutes
2 W/kg: 179 minutes
Start & Finish
Begins and ends at the downtown Watopia start/finish.
Format: Loop
Restriction: Ride Only
Ride Achievement Badge: 1440 XP
Run Achievement Badge: none
Strava Segments
BestBikeSplit Model
Estimate ride time, IF and TSS, plan your power, and more!
Route Description
Route profile by ZwiftHub – the place to plan and track your route achievements!
The Watopia Pretzel begins at the popular downtown Watopia start/finish, and heads out Ocean Boulevard to take on the Epic KOM forward. Once you reach the top of the Epic KOM you’ll hang a left onto the horribly-named “bonus climb” – a steep, icy climb to the radio tower platform!
Then it’s a fast descent back to Watopia proper where you’ll hit the Hilly KOM reverse, loop around through the start/finish banner, onto the Esses then a loop around Ocean Boulevard to the Hilly KOM forward.
Next we head past the fishing village again, but turn right at the wind turbines to head up the Epic KOM reverse. Hit the final climb hard then descend back to Ocean Boulevard for a quick trip through the fishing village, the Italian Villas, and over the Esses to the downtown start/finish. You did it!
Get lost on the Pretzel? I selected the Pretzel yesterday and wonder,if you will finish automatically this route, as also other routes. I rode over 80km and 1405 mtr, but no end in sight?! Is ther something – after selecting the route – you have to do?
i did the same thing today and googled landing on this page to see what was up. 2:45 riding and no badge. oh well… ill get it next weekend.
Doing an event on this route doesn’t seem to trigger the strava segment.
Same here ! I did a race on the pretzel the other month, I definitely completed it because I got the badge in Zwift, but I don’t have the segment on Strava or the ZwiftInsider Veloviewer leaderboards. 😭
A lot of the segments don’t line up with the routes if you do them as an event, including this one.
Route has changed. Zwift KOM (forward) x2, 80+km before I got badge.
whaaaaat?
Wait, what? I was 75+k when I decided to stop because it was taken me to the KOM again. Why they don’t update the map previews and the distances?
I did this one on an event today. I hadn’t really studied the route and was wondering what we were going to do with the 20+ km between the Epic Kom descent and the finish.
I was unpleasantly surprised when we started climbing Epic Kom for the second time and horrified when there were still 2 kms left at the Epic Kom banner. A surprise Radio Tower after almost three hours of riding is a good way to train your stamina. No badge though.
I did it today, selected the route from the startup page. Route was as described here and on Zwifthub and got the badge.
Is the Tron the best bike for this route or should I go with Tarmac+Meilenstein?
I bet Tron would be better due to the significant flatter & descending portions, but bike changes could also make sense
This is super cool Chapos to taking the time to put all this extremely helpful info together!!!
What’s with the naming here? “Watopia Pretzel” – in the app it’s clearly named “The Pretzel” and everywhere else I’ve looked, it’s also written as “The Pretzel”.