Zwift has announced the next big Tour, and while the details aren’t yet released, we do know some of the basics. It’s the Tour of Watopia, and if last year’s event is any indicator, ToW 2020 should be a blast!
Stage Details
Events begin March 9 and run through April 2, making ToW 25 days long. ToW has 5 stages, a reduction from the 2019 Tour’s 7 stages. (Tour de Zwift 2020 has 7 stages while TdZ 2019 had 9, so it looks like Zwift is moving toward shorter tours.)
Each stage is 4 days long, with multiple events scheduled to accommodate everyone’s availability. Make-up events will (presumably) be scheduled from March 29-April 2.
Stage 1: The Flats – March 9-12
The tour begins with group rides on two of Zwift’s special event-only routes.
"The Magnificent 8" route was rolled out with Zwift's October 29th update, and is used as the route for the Halloween dinosaur costume scavenger hunt. Whether this route will hang around and be available for events or free-riding in the future remains to be seen. The route begins in downtown Watopia, riding through the start/finish banner in the reverse direction. We ride around the volcano, across the land bridge, by the Italian Villas then over the reverse Hilly KOM. (This is the only significant climb of the entire route). Next, we hang a right onto Ocean Boulevard, then a left to Fuego Flats for a spin through the desert. This brings us all the way around to a right turn onto the Ocean Boulevard/Epic KOM spur, where we make our way back to downtown Watopia for the finish. This is actually an excellent flat route--hopefully it will be available for future use! Route details:Course Profile
Distance: 28.6km (18 miles)
Elevation Gain: 131m (463')
[button link="https://www.strava.com/segments/22180287" color="black" newwindow="yes"] Strava Forward Segment[/button]
See all stage 1 events at ZwiftHacks >
Stage 2: The Loops – March 13-16
Lots of desert for the second stage, making the Figure 8 route chosen for the group rides seems a bit out of place. It’s all good, though: Figure 8 is still one of Watopia’s best!
See all stage 2 events at ZwiftHacks >
Stage 3: The Climbs – March 17-20
This is the Queen stage for the Tour of Watopia. Take on the Alpe in a group ride, or race up the Volcano.
Zwift has just released an update which includes a 400-meter run track on Watopia. Named "May Field" (get it?), the blue track can be seen on the left as you begin riding Ocean Boulevard away from downtown Watopia. According to the route note, this "ultra-fast oval is covered in a mix of urethane and sand from Watopia's very own beaches." This is a one-way track, and there is a new start area just before the lap line. Runners can choose to turn right and exit onto Ocean Boulevard. Here are a few more shots of the beautiful new track: Looking for a Strava segment? We've got your back. Zwift runners: you tried the new track? What are your thoughts?
What do you think?
See all stage 3 events at ZwiftHacks >
Stage 4: The Jungle – March 21-24
Stage four is gonna get dirty! All events are held on Watopia’s Jungle Circuit route where the sloth waves hello, mountain bikes are faster than road bikes and the dust rises to meet you.
See all stage 4 events at ZwiftHacks >
Stage 5: The Volcano – March 25-28
Things really heat up on the final stage as we run and ride up, around, and through Watopia’s Volcano. Stay out of the lava!
See all stage 5 events at ZwiftHacks >
Make-Up Days
If you missed one or more stages, you can ride one of the make-up events which have been scheduled between March 29th and April 2nd.
See all ToW make-up events at ZwiftHacks >
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CATEGORIES
Like this year’s Tour de Zwift, ToW will include both Run and Ride events. There are actually three different events, each with their own categorization scheme: group runs, group rides, and group races (for cyclists). Here’s how the categories work:
For group run events, the category (A, B) selected determines your run length. It does not determine route or pace.
- A: longer run
- B: shorter run
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
The bike 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+ 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
Double XP
The focus of this year’s ToW is “leveling up.” All ToW are awarding double the distance XP, which means riders and runners can really rack up the points! (XP is how you level up in Zwift – click to learn more about how it works for cycling and running.)
Typically riders are awarded 20XP per kilometer or 30XP per mile, depending on whether you have units set to metric or imperial. In ToW events riders receive 40XP per kilometer/60XP per mile.
Runners typically receive 10XP per .25km or 15XP per .25 mile. You will receive 20XP per .25km or 30XP per .25 mile.
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Kit Unlock
Complete all 5 stages and unlock the ToW 2020 kit! Complete all 5 rides and runs to unlock both kits.
Registration
Visit the tour homepage(s) to register. Registered Zwifters will receive further ToW information as it is released.
ToW Ride Homepage >
ToW Run Homepage >
Once the event schedule is finalized and released, Zwifters will be able to sign up for events just as we’ve done in the past.
Pro-Am Race Series
Top pro and amateur Zwift racers will take on each stage the day before the rest of Zwift rides it, and these races will be broadcast live. Get all the details here >
Got Questions?
Questions or comments? Post below, and we’ll do what we can to get them answered!
Has anyone already received their TDZ 2020 kit before talking about the ToW kit? For my part, nothing despite having done races and long rides.
But otherwise, it’s a good news… 🙂
I got mine and have been showing it off in all the virtual coffee shops…
Trying to get excited for a Tour of Watopia…. but just doubling XP isn’t moving the needle that much for me…
I agree. It might be something to motivate the beginners, but maybe not anything to write home about after level 20 or so when a) there’s not much to achieve with levels b) even double XPs for some hundreds of kms don’t turn into noticeable changes.
It’s great motivation for beginners, just like motivation to unlock different routes! I suspect some of those who have been around longer and finished California, Italy, Everest and Tron… need something more challenging with a “Bigger Prize”? Problem is once you get the best bike with the best wheels I’m not sure what else will be rewarding. Ms. Schlange’s quest for “all” the routes is an interesting take and personally fulfilling…but as far as I know there is not an item. They have had previous quests that put you in a drawing for a real life prize, but I’m not sure that is the answer either. Looks like they are trying out MTBs to go with steering. Brain storm for fun ideas???
I harvested loads of XP in last years stage 4 of TdW with all those juicy 1000xp banners to ride under. More of that please!
They were 250XP banners 🙂
If you do the same stage twice, would you still get double XP the second time?
Yes, just keep repeating stages for all that XP
Can’t wait! I did stage 4 last year with double XP 5 times. This may get me all the way to lvl 50!
Can you participate without signing up to races / events? For those of us that are undertaking personal structured training plans can we just ride these routes in our own time to complete the task. I guess I could sign up for an event and then run my structured workout on a different platform and thus ride the event solo (off the back most likely), but that ties me into a specific start time. The XP bonus thing is irrelevant to me, if anything I want less as I’m going to hit L50 in about 12 weeks.
You have to sign up for the events in order to participate. You can’t participate without participating. 😉
Being at about two-thirds of the way between Level 40 and Level 41 (and with the goal of getting the Safety Bike by the end of April) I’d certainly welcome the Tour of XP Inflation. The only route I haven’t completed is the PRL Full, so there aren’t many opportunities for big jumps.
In the events section of the Companion App, I saw some group rides and races for the first two stages announced.
Stage 1, Monday 9-3 until Thursday 12-3
Group Ride – Waistband (1 or 2 laps)
Race – Flat Route 1 lap (21km/123m)
Stage 2, Friday 13-3 until….
Group Ride – Sand & Sequoias (1 or 2 laps)
Race – Sand & Sequoias 1 lap (22,5km / 181m)
All the stage info (and links to schedules) is now in the post above!
Will their be make up rides, I want to do all stages but will be traveling for work the first week.
Looks like it, although they aren’t in the calendar yet. As written above: “Make-up events will (presumably) be scheduled from March 29-April 2.”
Is there going to be some kind of classifications for races ?
I would guess that ZwiftPower will have it listed under “Leagues” like they did for Tour de Zwift. It’s not there yet, though.
Zwift themselves don’t appear to be providing any overall rankings across multiple races – just results for each race. A scratch race setup.
I rode Stage 1 of the ToW A today and no finishing positions are available. What happened? I’m not racing, but it sure is fun and useful to look at the results the way they’ve been made available in the past.
Hi
I think its still not there or does anybode see an overall ranking like it was for Tour of Watopia this year ? I can only see the overall ranking of last years Tour of Watopia.
Do we know if double drafting will be in effect for the Tour of Watopia?
It looks like double draft is NOT enabled for any of the events at this time.
i would like to know if it is possible to add an event with a different time that is been suggested on the companion? for the running i cant make any of these time?
That would be ZwiftHQ’s call!
how are we able to take part in tour when zwift do update that screws up game bigtime they would rather give you pain job for mountain bike than getting mistakes sorted out ,the soon take our subscriptions
Does anyone know if it’s possible to ‘Ride together’ in an event like this? I’d like to ride with a few friends and we’d like to try to stick together.
Not really. You just have to find each other in the masses and try to stay close! (Which is pretty tough, when everyone is in the same kit and there are hundreds of riders…)
Many thanks Eric 😀
How do we unlock the ToW shoes?!
I registered for all 5 stages. Where can I find my schedule? Don’t exactly remember the dates and times.
Zwift Companion App should have all the events in it.
Thanks, but i meant the exact ones i registered for.
In the companion app you can swipe left under events and see the next events you sighed up for.
Thx Gerrie
Do you just have to do one ride in each stage to be able to have completed the tour?
Yes. A group ride OR a race will count.
So I can race stage 1 and ride the others, and still complete the ToW? Great!
…sorry, replied to wrong post
what time zone are start times
In the companion app they’re localized to your time. Same with ZwiftHacks I believe.
Can you do a group ride and a race in the same stage of the tour? Race stage 1 and do a group ride of stage 1.
Yep!
Do you think there should be more incentive to complete these tours? Jersey unlock is great if you will actually use it. I ride for a team as do many people and wear the team kit so I am not gaining anything by completing the tour (apart from double xp and some socializing i guess).
Just a thought with the risk of Giro and Classics being cancelled. Can Zwift and organizers put the whole peloton in a room, stick a course on get the commentators on? Would be great to see the pro peloton on zwift and stream the lot on YouTube or something. Come on Zwift, that would be amazing ! 👍🏼
It WOULD be super cool! I haven’t heard anything from Zwift along these lines, but maybe they’ll be able to get some bigger pros in for the ToW Pro-Am series…?
Could be very exciting to see all of the riders together! However to avoid travel issues and group exposure they should not all be in the actual same room. Better if they had individual or small group rooms that were virtually linked by Zwift and Zoom or equivalent. The rides would each have 2 screens. One for their rider on Zwift and a second that can pan to each other rooms video of the live riders with audio. Maybe the coaches would control? Anything I miss?
I’m new to Zwift events. How does this really work? I’m certainly a Category B free-rider. Do I have a choice of the Cat B group rides or the Cat B races, or do I have to do both to be considered “completed”? My inclination is to do the group rides only if that works.
You only need to do one event for each stage to be considered as “completing” the tour. So that can be a race OR a group ride.
Read the description above about how the categories work. (They aren’t related to your power/ability for the group rides, but they ARE for the races.) Enjoy!
I signed up for all of the stages but forgot to write down the dates and times. What is the easiest way to find out the dates and times that I signed up for?
Go to https://www.zwiftpower.com/, log in, click “Profile” and then on the submenu “Signups” is available. It’ll show everything you’re signed up for (maybe events only, but all my ToW signups showed up). If you’re on mobile, I think you have to click on your profile image on the top right and navigate to “Zwift Profile” to get to the “Profile” page.
Will there be results even in group rides?
In past tours, group rides have included your finishing position (if that’s what you mean by “results”). I’m not sure if that’s the case with ToW, but I would bet it is. I’ll know probably tomorrow, when I do my first ToW group ride!
So do you just sign up and just get into Zwift in Watopia? Tried that and the race started w/o me.
Yes. Sign up for the event, then start riding in game. Doesn’t matter what world you’re in. When it gets within 20-25 minutes of the event start time, you should see a little “Join Event” button at the bottom-left you can click to get into the start pens. It should automatically take you there around the 4 minute mark as well.
If you don’t get the button or prompts, try restarting Zwift maybe? Seems to work consistently for most folks though!
Okay, I’ll try again. Most likely missed the button prompt. Appreciate the reply.
My trainer just did not pair before the 1st stage, I could fix it later, and I was still able to join the tour (weird), in the middle of the stage, with a group…and made me complete the stage! Do you have a post with some tips to do before join a tour/race?
Can I re-do it again? Is that allowed?
Some events allow for late joiners (up to so many minutes after it has started) and will put you in somewhere with the group
You can do an event as many times as you’d like. There’s also the different variations of the events that you can do as well
Did the Stage 1 Group Run on Monday and it listed all the results. I then did the Stage 1 Women’s Group Ride (category C) on Tuesday but no results have been listed. Any idea why?
What does “special guest” mean on the ToW icon for some group rides? Thanks.
Anyone have any idea why I after completing Stage 3 Volcano Climb route today (and receiving the route badge) I don’t have a time listed in the Zwift Insider VeloViewer leaderboard?
Strava doesn’t have a Zwift Insider Volcano Climb segment listed for my ride, searching segment list there is a Volcano Climb route but it looks like this does not start at the Pens, which is why I think this did not get counted.
All other routes I have done so far where the event has started in the pens do give me a time on the leaderboard, albeit far down the leader board 🙂
It’s because the segment begins at the banner, not the pens. This is discussed quite about on our Veloviewer post, if you want to cruise through those comments… https://zwiftinsider.com/route-hunter/
Hey Eric, I love the Zwift challenge rides like thousands of others peeps. During these challenge rides, Zwift display a current/remaining mileage status bar at the top. I was wondering if Zwift has that implemented for the typical, non-Zwift sponsored challenge routes days. Very handy as I learn the routes & distances. Just checking and Ride On!
Any info on a bigger chance of getting the Meilensteins when arriving at the wheel of fortune on top of the Alpe during this ToW? Been up there 8 times I guess, still didn’t get lucky… Would be a nice present to all finishers of “Road to Sky” during stage 3 🙂
Nope!
Do the achievement badges also multiple when completing the route for the first time?
Would be my first time on the Volcano Climb route for example.
No, it’s just double distance XP.
Not just double distance XP, but also double calorie XP on runs.
What if you miss a stage?
After Stage 5 there will be a catch up until April 2 to make up missed stages
Late to the game but I did ride TOW Stage 4 today. It displayed +20xp per kilometer ridden. Does Zwift show +40xp for each km ridden on a stage of TOW?
Not sure of the problem. I’m running Zwift on AppleTV4k with automatic app updates but I suspect it may not be the latest version. On the AppleTV my “Garage” has the Zwift Mountain Bike but not have the Scott mountain bike that appears on the Zwift app on my iPad and MacBookPro.
Is there a way to view the actual app version number for these devices? A way to force an update of the app on AppleTV? Or should I just delete the app and reinstall?
Instructions are here: https://zwift.com/news/17477-zwift-how-to-updating-your-game. Zwiftinsider also just had an article about this too.
Hey Dave thanks for the link. Found the software version appears on the bottom right of the start up page and they didn’t match. Problem solved…+40xp per kilometer.
I realized I had been leaving Zwift running on the AppleTV and just shut the flat screen monitor. Automatic app update was selected but that doesn’t work for the still runnin’ app….duh! Ride on!
With all that is going on and recently getting back on Zwift, I missed Tour of Watopia Stages 1, 2 and 3. Do you think they will have them available again ?
(I wish & hope)
It looks like we’ll have make up days after Stage 5, although they aren’t on the events list yet.
Interesting to note about Stage 4:
The first 5 kM are essentially flat or down hill…so if you just want a quick (<8 mins) for 200 XP, then sign up each hour and ride. Not sure if you could do that and the race 10 minutes after each hour too for 400 XP. You won’t get credit for completing the stage…but massively easy points if you can hop on multiple times!
As you are required to use Zwift MTB, you will not get Cape Climbing meters towards your goal. Seems like a missed opportunity to double up on events!
I’ve completed stage 1,2 and 4 (and planning on 5 obviously) but missed 3.. is there a chance to recover it later like last year?
Yes. Read the comments above–also mentioned in the post!
STAGE 4 ride with guest doesn’t count?
I done it but doesn’t add up to my overall of completed stages.
I still miss 4 and 5
The same case here. I completed TDW today but I didn’t get the kit… Perhaps st.4 didn’t count.
Having ridden the Jungle Circuit 5 times on the long ride and twice on the race, I don’t feel the need to go round it again for a looooong time. Definitely feel like they could have been more imaginative with the Stage 4 route
Is Stage 5 a MTB stage too?
No, it’s on the volcano. Normal bikes, you pick the bike.
Anyone has a picture of the Tour of Watopia shoes? I have s’en someone unlock them
Sure, here ya go!
tks!
In last day od Stage 4 I had a problem with Internet connection, nad my ride was not saved. Is there a possibility to repeat one stage of Tour?
Yes, there will be make up days once the stage 5 wraps up. Watch the calendar.
Thank You
Thanks for the site and all the work you do. I have really enjoyed the route list. I have been doing the rides on the list and getting results. I am thinking about trying the 11 week workout also. Great information site.
Great site Eric! Have the ToW stage make-up rides been scheduled yet?
Nope.
Hi Erick, after finishing all 5 stages, when is the Kit unlocked? It wasn’t unlocked immediately after finishing, is there an unlocking date?
I’m not entirely sure. For me, it unlocked when I started my next ride.
yep!! you were right. I logged in again and it unloked the Kit and Shoes. Thanks!!!
How do you unlock the socks? Saw them this morning on someone and when I asked they said they got all three instead of just kit and shoes.
Can you run and ride these stages multiple times and get double points?
Yes, each time you ride/run a km/mile during the stages you get 40/60 points. You do not even have to finish a stage…just the appropriate distance. Also some finish just before the next km or mile…eg. 24.9 km; so if you want an extra 20 pts for that km (not 40 as it finishes outside the course for the tour) just do that 0.1 km (100 meters…silly not to); I noticed that you can just do first all downhill 5k on stage 4 for an easy 200 XP.
Hi,
I missed stage 2 & 3 so decided to do the make up days which started on Sunday 29/3 but I missed the start by 1min. I did finish the Stage 2 but it hasn’t shown up as completed on the companion app.
I arrived 10km late yet still got a badge? What is the cutoff for late starters?