All About Tour de Zwift 2020 (Ride)

Tour de Zwift will be the largest series of events ever held on Zwift. It’s a 7-stage series, and for each stage Zwifters get to choose between group rides, bike races, and runs. Do just one, or do all three!

Here’s everything we know about TdZ 2020. This page will be constantly updated as new info (stage routes, etc) is released.

Ride or Race

One big change from prior TdZs is Zwift offering riders the opportunity to race each stage. Many riders in the past unofficially raced the stages–but this year Zwift has official race events separate from group ride events.

Group ride events will use double draft mode to help riders stick together and move along at a brisk pace. Race events will use Zwift’s standard draft.

Learn more about TdZ’s open races >

You’ve Got Options

With stages spanning a few days apiece and each group ride category and race covering a different route, Zwifters have several route and effort-level options for each stage.

Can’t get enough TdZ? Ride multiple events in each stage. Perhaps you’d like to enjoy a brisk group ride on a longer route, and race a shorter route? Do it!

Categories

As mentioned above, each stage includes separate group ride and race events.

For group ride events, the category (A, B, C) selected determines your route. This gives riders more control over the length and difficulty of their ride.

  • A: long route
  • B: shorter/easier route
  • C: women only

Race events use the same route regardless of category selection. Racers, choose your category based on FTP w/kg, like most Zwift races:

Mixed (Men & Women) Race Categories
  • A: 4-5 w/kg
  • B: 3.2-3.9 w/kg
  • C: 2.5-3.1 w/kg
  • D: 1-2.4 w/kg
Women’s Race Categories
  • A: 3.7-5 w/kg
  • B: 3.2-3.69 w/kg
  • C: 2.5-3.19 w/kg
  • D: 1-2.49 w/kg

Stage Details

Stage 1 (London): Jan 12-15 (click for route details)

Stage 2 (Innsbruck): Jan 16-19 (click for route details)

Stage 3 (Watopia): Jan 20-23 (click for route details)

Stage 4 (Bologna): Jan 24-27 (click for route details)


Stage 5 (New York): Jan 28-31 (click for route details)


Stage 6 (Richmond): Feb 1-4 (click for route details)


Stage 7 (Yorkshire): Feb 5-8 (click for route details)

Makeup Days: Feb 10-16

Sign up for events at Zwift.com or via Zwift Companion
See all upcoming TdZ events at ZwiftHacks.com >

Prizes and Unlocks

Complete all stages to unlock the exclusive TdZ 2020 kit. This is the kit you’ve seen riders have been wearing for all the TdZ events.

Pro-Am Invitational Races on Tour de Zwift Live

Another new and fun addition to this year’s TdZ is Zwift’s Pro-Am Invitational race seres. These live-streamed invitational races feature top riders taking on the same course we’ll all race, the day before each stage begins. Read all about it here >

TdZ for Runners

There is also a TdZ for Runners happening at the same time as TdZ for Riders. It has its own (secret) unlock and set of 7 stages.

We will publish a separate post covering this, once we get more details.

Registration

Riders and Runners can register for the TdZ using the links below. This just gets you signed up for the overall Tour(s), meaning Zwift will send you reminder emails, etc. You will still need to sign up for each specific stage.

Register for TdZ Ride >
Register for TdZ Run >

Questions or Comments?

Share them below, and we’ll do our best to get answers!

Eric Schlange
Eric Schlangehttp://www.zwiftinsider.com
Eric runs Zwift Insider in his spare time when he isn't on the bike or managing various business interests. He lives in Northern California with his beautiful wife, two kids and dog. Follow on Strava

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Jesse
Jesse
3 years ago

Do you know what the run courses will be? I think stage 3 is Road to the Ruins based on the images from Zwift.

Mike
Mike
3 years ago

Registration link seems wrong. Broken.
Is there an active sign up link for Ride?

Edward
Edward
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

There is a work-around mentioned on the Zwift forum that worked for me: change your flag (near the login in your webbrowser) to US, register, and change it back.

David Cooper
David Cooper
3 years ago
Reply to  Edward

That didn’t work for me.

Logged out, changed the flag from UK to US, clicked on the register link, asked me to login and then took me straight back to the broken page. Then tried changing the flag while already logged in, refreshed the page, showed the US flag but still refused to let me go to anything but the broken page.

Not really good enough a week ahead of the start.

Henrik Porthin
Henrik Porthin
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

seems to work now

Matt
Matt
3 years ago

“Finish all and unlock a kit to light up your locker.”

Was really hoping you were right about the new bike.

https://zwift.com/tdzride?utm_source=ericschlange&utm_campaign=zwift_cycling_affiliate_ericschlange_apr19&utm_medium=affiliate

Scott M.
Scott M.
3 years ago
Reply to  Matt

I wonder if it will be a “Tron” jersey? (The description reads: “light up” your locker).

Calam Leneham
Calam Leneham
3 years ago
Reply to  Scott M.

I think too many people thought this too and they confirmed it is just the jersey from the tdz -_-

The jersey does seem a bit illuminated… But I won’t be pairing it with my Tron

Ian
Ian
3 years ago
Reply to  Calam Leneham

Between keeping it a secret and overcommitting the coolness of the prize it now feels like a bait and switch.

Mkl
Mkl
3 years ago

Can y ride this in erg mode? Maybe even ride doing workout I created in Zwift

Hatch1776
Hatch1776
3 years ago

No distances released yet? I’m guessing somewhere from 40-50 km for the shorter distance?

NHodges
NHodges
3 years ago

The link appears to work now but only in Chrome for me. Its a good job you had a link because I cannot find TDZ through navigation of the ZWIFT website! You might expect it to be a headline in the Events page but no; the website isn’t great which, is a shame.

Danny
Danny
3 years ago

I am currently following a Zwift 12 week winterplan.
Can i do a TDZ stage as workout according my plan ?

CJ Gagnon
CJ Gagnon(@clarke-gagnon)
3 years ago

Looks like there Is tour de zwift stage 1 today at 5pm MST. But I don’t know why…. it isn’t supposed to start for awhile

Skip
Skip(@hckastroll)
3 years ago

There is a TDZ Event today at 7PM EST….but it is the only one for a week…any idea why…maybe an initial test before full launch?

David Barndollar
David Barndollar(@barnwani)
3 years ago
Reply to  Skip

I signed up for it on a whim but it seems to have been taken down already.

Jim
Jim
3 years ago

Can I ride the stages on my own or do I have to join a group ride?

Jwiffle
Jwiffle
3 years ago
Reply to  Jim

If you can’t make the time slot, just select that ride sometime earlier and log in. You’re avatar will sit on the side of the road until about 5 minutes before the event, when he’ll be auto sent to the pens. When your ready, you’ll just start your ride even if it’s hours later. You’ll probably be on the course all by yourself, but it will count it. I’ve done this several times during past tours on Zwift.

Sara
Sara
3 years ago

It looks like for the first stage there is not a category D nor E. Are those riders not permitted to join?

Tamas
Tamas
3 years ago
Reply to  Sara

Sara, if you want to complete the stage as group ride then the category defines only the length, profile and route of the stage and A,B and C has not connection with your category. If you want to complete the stage as a race (usually the stages start 10min later than the group rides) then you need to register to the right category based on your FTP (A,B,C or D)

Toby
Toby(@tobias-schmitt)
3 years ago
Reply to  Tamas

Is it possible to ride a Stage 1 race and the Stage 1 Group Ride afterwards, like one day later?

Scott Mckell
Scott Mckell
3 years ago

Is there no group ride for D category on stage 1 (or any other stage) ?

Tom Schyvens
Tom Schyvens
3 years ago

Do the races count for your zwiftpower points?

Greetz

Laurens
Laurens
3 years ago

Can i do a race on the 1st stage and a group ride the 2nd stage ?

George
George
3 years ago

Last year we were able to earn lots of extra XPs during the tdZ, will that be the case again?

Nick
Nick
3 years ago

Apparently the first race is not London 8 but two laps of the London Classique route, which makes it shorter and easier than any of the group rides. Very disappointing. The group rides are probably going to be more competitive than the races 🙁

Paul Mason
Paul Mason
3 years ago
Reply to  Nick

Why not do both? That’s my plan – race the short race course and the long ride course. If it’s anything like Tour of London- they’ll be plenty of competition in the group rides.

David G
David G
3 years ago
Reply to  Nick

Agree, I am just going to go fast on the group rides. The long races were amazing last year, I was so disappointed when I saw the race courses. I get splitting into casual rides and racers but then why make the race courses so short and poor? I think it is more to do with a poorly thought out plan to create an esport.

Jesse Langevin
Super Member
Jesse Langevin(@jesselangevin)
3 years ago

After seeing the first two stages, I really prefer the routes selected for the women’s only rides (I also need those route achievements so that may have something to do with it).

Serap Klein
Serap Klein
3 years ago

I signed up for a group ride but could not find how to join as it was time to go.
Today we had NY and Watopia , so I was not able to select the group eide route in London. Not sure how I at the end managed to select London & join . Somehow my Companion App asked if I want still to join the ride. How can I select the route to join?

Jurgen
Jurgen
3 years ago
Reply to  Serap Klein

Just start warming up on whatever course is available ahead of the start. Zwift will ask if you want to be teleported to the start if the ride is about to start.

Alasdair Philip
Alasdair Philip
3 years ago

So today was a bit of a comedy event. Signed up for the 11:10am EST Race in the B category. Set off at usual crazy pace into the lead out lap, made the left towards Westminster in the lead group in 20th place only to find myself all of a sudden in 70th place, 30 seconds behind the leaders. followed the lead group for a lap around the London Classique, the designated route, then on the last lap coming in to Westminster again instead of making a right toward the Mall we kept on straight until making a left over… Read more »

Daniel
Daniel
3 years ago

My wife and I enrolled to TdZ. We did TdZ stage 1 (London course) yesterday and mine was virtually flat (group ride, Cat B), whereas hers was more demanding (group ride, Cat C, she went up Box Hill). Any rationale for it?

Daniel
Daniel
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Thanks for the reply. I’m inclined to think Cat C will be more challenging and demanding than Cat B throughout the TdZ, (i.e, in terms of difficulty, you could rank them as Cat A > Cat C > Cat B) . Am I correct?

Ramon
Ramon
3 years ago
Reply to  Daniel

Cat C is women only, cat A and B is both/all (Just to be sure) genders where cat A is a different/longer/more difficult route compared to Cat. B (at least for London).

Edit:
Same for Innsbruck, Cat C is women only, Cat A & B is both genders etc etc..

David
David
3 years ago

A friend signed up for the 1st stage but apparently didn’t get registered for TDZ overall. She got an UPG in zwiftpower, so is now disappointed that she’ll have to repeat stage one … is that even possible? Seems like you should be automatically entered in the overall if you sign up for stage 1… please set me straight on how this works. Clear info is important for the big Zwift events

Paul Tuttle
Paul Tuttle
3 years ago

Eric – Rode today, Jan 13. Signed up for Stage 1 (greatest London Flat) but Zwift loaded Yorkshire not London. Shutdown Zwift and restarted but again loaded Yorkshire so I went ahead and rode. Zwift gave be credit for Stage 1. Is this a glitch in the system? I need to know ahead of time what I’ve signed up for since some days I have time constraints. I’d appreciated anything you can tell me about this. – Thanks Paul

Paul Tuttle
Paul Tuttle
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Thank you for your response. I had set a reminder for the event ahead of time; started about 10 minutes ahead of time; it took me to the start line for Yorkshire (surprised me but I decided to stay and see what happened, no other riders at the start line); when the ride started was still on Yorkshire so I quit out of Zwift and restarted; again it took me to Yorkshire (I wanted to ride so went ahead and rode, there were only two other riders on the course). Completed the 19.2 miles and got credit for stage 1.

Joy Murphy
3 years ago

Hi Eric, I am trying to understand the point system in Zwift Power vs. the total time value used in Tour of London. Is there a reason they are doing point system where so many people tie?
Thank you!

Christopher Benigno
Christopher Benigno(@christopher-benigno)
3 years ago

Is there a make up race for stage one of tdz

Jim
Jim
3 years ago

Eric I have a question about stage 3 Bologna I do not see it on the calendar if I register will it pop up and let me in? I am a rookie at this so I want to make sure I do it right

Jim
Jim
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Awesome thank you

Kjar
Kjar
3 years ago

Seems like they posted Stage 3 on the Events Schedule (looking through the Companion App). Similar logic to what Stages 1 and 2 were. The A-ride is 26.5mi, Watopia Big Loop, B and C rides are Sand & Sequoia, 13.9mi. Race is Watopia Hilly (Two laps), 11.5mi.

A bit sad, was hoping for a race up Alpe du Zwift, or at least the Epic KOM. Watopia was a great opportunity for a serious mountain.

Henrik Porthin
Henrik Porthin
3 years ago
Reply to  Kjar

I was guessing volcano after party.

Kade
Kade
3 years ago

I’m very confused by Stage 2 (Innsbruck) distances.
Group A (long distance) = 37km, 657m gain
Group B (short distance) = 8.7km, 76m gain

I wish the distance/gain discrepancy wasn’t so big between the two. Stage 1 and Stage 3 have much more reasonable (longer) short distance group B groups to my mind. Innsbruck group A is a bit much for me, but group B is like a warmup.

Kade
Kade
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

You are correct! I just finished it and sure enough it was 2 laps. While the signup page says 1 lap. Bit annoying as I hopped on my bike in street clothes thinking it would be a super quick ride 😆
https://imgur.com/dTqH6q2

Ryan
Ryan
3 years ago

I see there is a makeup days planned — if I missed stage one, could I get it then?

Dan
Dan
3 years ago

It looks like the A and B Watopia routes all start before the start pens. Will route achievement badges be awarded for the Watopia TDZ routes?

Dan
Dan
3 years ago
Reply to  Dan

To answer my own question – The long route did award the Big Loop route badge.

Nate
Nate
3 years ago

I’ve found many of the tour of Zwift races but I’ve never seen group rides. I read they have categories that are distance /group ride oriented. Only categories I’ve ever seen are by w/kg. How can i find a longer group ride on my Zwift app and register to ride? Thank you. Love Zwift!!!!!

Robert Jan van Wiggen
Robert Jan van Wiggen
3 years ago

What Does the make up Day means? Is It a possibility to Ride a course that u misser for some kind of reason

Denis M
Denis M
3 years ago

All right, seems like there are no workarounds for Bologna – the Race is 3 times the course! Welcome to the pain train ride, make sure you select your lightest bike and wheels!

simon
simon
3 years ago

is there some catch-up sessions if we missed one or two stages?

Chewie
Chewie
3 years ago

Will Bologna be in time trial mode or will there be drafting?

Denis M
Denis M
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Just curious – would you personally want a TT stage? I think Zwift is doing a great job in terms of bringing more people into racing and increasing involvement, however I feel like it would be great to have some of this “grand tour” experience – where you actually have general classification, can see your gap and place overall, there are some TT and maybe mountain TT stages….

Denis M
Denis M
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Basic and fun probably goes back to your wonderful article about enforcing w/kg categories… I am at the very top of C – a few steps away from B, probably, but at least a good contender for solid performances in my current Cat. So, here is my experience with the Innsbruck race – it was somewhat fun, but somewhat not. We all go out pretty hard, I am in the first group. First two minutes way above FTP, working hard, HR is high. Staying in the first group. One attack – we catch up. Another one – we catch up… Read more »

David Cooper
David Cooper
3 years ago
Reply to  Denis M

“… but it’s so raw and so “beta” for a 5-year old product…” That is both fair comment and unfair comment at the same time. In days gone by you could argue that 5 years after release a piece of software should never give the impression of still being in “beta”, but there was a good reason that for a number of years all of Google’s software was officially shown to be in beta all the time. The current trend is for software not to run in distinct versions but to be in a constant cycle of rolling out updates… Read more »

Richard P
Richard P
3 years ago
Reply to  Denis M

I think a GC over the whole TdZ is a fantastic idea and Zwift have missed a trick there! I accept the point of encouraging broad engagement but I’m sure it would help with motivation to complete the Tour if you were battling for position over the whole race. There are complications over different group rides moving at different speeds so it’s not entirely a fair contest but it’s just for fun after all.

Aaron Lipton
Aaron Lipton
3 years ago

Why no Crit City?

Henrik Porthin
Henrik Porthin
3 years ago

New York routes are up on zwift.com/tdzride
A 1x Everything Bagel
B 2x Park Perimeter Loop
C 1x Knickerbocker
Race 2x Gotham Grind Reverse

Michael Anderson
Michael Anderson(@michael-anderson)
3 years ago

Eric
Any idea why times in some group rides stop looking like a standard time and go to something like the following 4595986?

Christina Sands
Christina Sands
3 years ago

Sorry if this is a repeat as there are so many questions – at the end will there be an opportunity to do any stages we have missed? Last year we could do that. Thank you too for all the options! Makes it more fun 🙂

Christo
Christo
3 years ago

I missed a stage when can i ride the missed stage?

ChrisB200SX
ChrisB200SX
3 years ago

Can you join TdZ event with a power-up, or do you lose it when you are teleported to the start pens?

Gerrie Delport
Gerrie Delport(@gerriedelport)
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

I have seen a few riders dropping Power-ups in the first Km. It may be a bug or they are still on an old zwift version.

Robby
Robby
3 years ago

Stage 4 Zwift Insider segment ‘Big Loop (Zwift Insider verified)’ does not match.

Jacopo Bonfiglio
Jacopo Bonfiglio
3 years ago

I could not make stage 3 . Are you planning another session for whom could not make a stage ?

Kubica
3 years ago

There are Makeup Days starting from 9th to 16th of February where you can complete what you have missed.

Liz
Liz
3 years ago

Can you register for a group ride twice? Eg. a group ride in Bologna on Thursday and on Friday

Jeannette
Jeannette
3 years ago

@Eric Schlange There’s an error in the drop down menu’s for stage 5. You’ve made two B groups and forgot the C 😉

Fabrice
Fabrice
3 years ago

Hi! Doing the Tour the Zwift. I want to race with my buddy (we train together). Any tips on how to be side by side on the starting line? Thanks!

fabrice
fabrice
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Ok… thanks!

Diego
Diego
3 years ago

First: congratulations to a wonderful site you have created, Eric. I don’t know what I would have done or where I would be now without your great help, tips and advices.
Here my question: today I raced the NYC loops, in cat C. I ended up 21st – but for the first time I cannot find myself on ZwiftPower. On my profile it says UPG. What does that mean?
Do I have to redo the race? Why does this show up when others have higher wattage and w/kg numbers?
Thanks for some clarity.

Diego
Diego
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Thank you very much – that’s helpful. Do I need to redo the race? I will sign up for B next time (glad to know I am fitter than I thought)

Scott Yunker
Scott Yunker
3 years ago

Why must the elevation be a sercret…..?

Calam Leneham
Calam Leneham
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

On the zwift app it down appear

Sirar
Sirar
3 years ago

Hi Community! Do you know if there are also rides in the “Women’s Race Categories” during the make up days? I want to do
some races again. Thanks for help! 🙂

Sirar Dayana Schachner
Sirar Dayana Schachner
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Schlange

Thanks Eric! 😊 I really hope …!

Sylvain Normand
Sylvain Normand
3 years ago

Why when i passed the finish line my time is 30.03 and it shows 30.27 in the result at the end? ***stage 5 race***. Thanks

Wolfie
Wolfie
3 years ago

Do you know if there’s a cumulative time for doing all the races or is it simply recorded race by race? It would be good to compare myself to the thousands of other riders, as well as trying to move up the rankings stage by stage like a real world tour.
Cheers

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