Zwift has just announced its next major event series – the crowd favorite, double XP-featuring Tour of Watopia!
The 5-stage tour begins March 29 and runs through April 22. And yes – Zwifters earn double XP in all ToW events. With lots of ToW events happening, you can bet Zwifters will be putting in the work to earn points and level up. Because everyone wants that S-Works Venge with 858/Super9 wheels…
There’s also a double kit unlock! More on that below.
Registration
Registration is now open at zwift.com/tour-of-watopia/, although ToW events are not yet on the calendar.
Note: registering really just sets you up to get some email reminders of upcoming stages – you will still need to sign up for specific events in order to ride or run the ToW.
Double XP
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.
Learn all about ride XP and unlocks >
Runners typically receive 10XP per .25km or 15XP per .25 mile. You will receive 20XP per .25km or 30XP per .25 mile.
Learn all about run XP and unlocks >
Rookie Rides and Runs
For the first time, this tour includes stage events for Rookies. These events feature a yellow beacon (ride/run leader). Leaders will be experienced Zwifters who will set a beginner pace, teach you how Zwift events work, and answer questions.
Ride Stages
Cycling events for ToW use the following category/group setup:
- Group A: Longer Ride
- Group B: Standard Ride
- Group C: Women Only
- Group E: Rookie Ride
Stage 1: March 29-April 2
- A: The Magnificent 8 – 28.6 km (17.8 miles), 131 m (430‘), Lead-In: 0.2 km (0.1 miles)
- B and E: Sand and Sequoias – 20.2 km (12.6 miles), 146 m (479‘), Lead-In: 2.4 km (1.5 miles)
- C: Watopia’s Waistband – 25.5 km (15.8 miles), 95 m (312‘), Lead-In: 2.4 km (1.5 miles)
Stage 2: April 3-7
- A: Muir and the Mountain – 33.9 km (21.1 miles), 767 m (2,516‘), Lead-In: 5.2 km (3.2 miles)
- B and E: Volcano Climb – 22.8 km (14.2 miles), 192 m (630‘), Lead-In: 0.5 km (0.3 miles)
- C: Mountain – 29.5 km (18.3 miles), 682 m (2,238‘), Lead-In: 0.5 km (0.3 miles)
Stage 3: April 8-12
- A: Out and Back Again – 39.8 km (24.7 miles), 303 m (994‘), Lead-In: 2.4 km (1.5 miles)
- B and E: Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop – 19 km (11.8 miles), 146 m (479‘), Lead-In: 0 km (0 miles)
- C: Figure 8 – 29.8 km (18.5 miles), 234 m (768‘), Lead-In: 0.2 km (0.1 miles)
Stage 4: April 13-17
- A: Big Loop – 42.4 km (26.3 miles), 651 m (2,136‘), Lead-In: 0.5 km (0.3 miles)
- B and E: Serpentine 8 – 19.20 km (11.9 miles), 199 m (653‘), Lead-In: 5.7 km (3.5 miles)
- C: Road to Ruins – 29.6 km (18.4 miles), 268 m (879‘), Lead-In: 0.5 km (0.3 miles)
Stage 5: April 18-22
- A: Three Sisters – 47.8 km (29.7 miles), elevation: 879 m (2,884‘), Lead-In: 0.5 km (0.3 miles)
- B and E: Mountain 8 – 32 km (19.9 miles), 677 m (2,221‘), Lead-In: 0.5 km (0.3 miles)
- C: Road to Sky – 17.3 km (10.7 miles), 1045 m (3,428‘), Lead-In: 0.1 km (0.1 miles)
See stage details and sign up at zwift.com/tour-of-watopia/ride
Run Stages
Run events for ToW use the following category/group setup:
- Group A: Longer Run
- Group B: Shorter Run
- Group C: Rookie Run
Stage 1: March 29-April 2
- A: The Magnificent 8 – 15 km
- B and C: Volcano Circuit CCW – 4.64 km
Stage 2: April 3-7
- A: Sand and Sequoias – 15.3 km
- B and C: Muir and the Mountain – 4.8 km
Stage 3: April 8-12
- A: Figure 8 – 11.4 km
- B and C: Two Bridges Loop – 6.8 km
Stage 4: April 13-17
- A: Road to Ruins – 12.4 km
- B and C: Serpentine 8 – 7,2 km
Stage 5: April 18-22
- A: Mountain Route – 14 km
- B and C: Mountain Route – 5.7 km
See stage details and sign up at zwift.com/tour-of-watopia/run
Make-Up Stages
There will be one week of make-up stages from April 23 – 29. During that one week, Zwift will host multiple covering all 5 stages.
Kit Unlocks
There are two kits to unlock, both for riders and runners. Complete one stage to unlock the Starter kit. Complete all five stages to unlock the coveted Finishers kit.
We aren’t sure which kit is the “starter” and which is the “finisher”, but these images show all four.
Questions or Comments?
We’ve shared everything we know above, and will update this post with new info as it becomes available.
Still got questions? Post below and we’ll try to get them answered. You might also check out the Tour of Watopia FAQ discussion in the Zwift forums.
Can’t wait – see you there Eric. 👍👍
Are those races for zwiftpower? i think not
every event like that seems to populate zwiftpower
i mean zwift power ranking
These aren’t races on ZwiftPower – they’re group rides. So they won’t impact your ZP ranking.
Zwift says, “event results won’t be displayed at the end.” Sadly.
Right now, ZwiftPower can not handle the statistics for large events such as this Tour.
Well, it worked for Tour du Zwift, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for this one. The caveat is that you get result for the specific ride only, not your classification across all riders having completed i.e stage 1.
Some people may actually prefer not being ranked for these group rides. 😀 It’s wonderful that there are many race opportunities on Zwift, but does every event have to be a race? Does it make sense for every event to be ranked? If your April riding/training plan -1- includes slow base -2- rides, such rides won’t be exactly meaningful to your ranking or ZP. NOTES (1) Some people have training plans that include activities outside of the Zwift Training Interface. (2) Some training experts believe balancing few high intensity rides with many low intensity base rides produces superior long term… Read more »
The BEST Zwift’s event. Love it
Looking forward to it 👍🏿
Do you get route Badge points as well as double xp if you haven’t done route?
Great question – would be good if you got double route points since route badge tends to be equivalent to distance XP. Anyone know?
I asked Zwift of Instagram this and they said yes, double xp for the route badge as well
I asked my contact at ZHQ who organized ToW, and she said the double XP is only for distance-based XP. It doesn’t apply to +10XP powerups or route badges…
Do you know if you repeat stages do you still get double XP points?
I was about to ask the same question 🙂
See Mark’s response to Tommy10Toes below. Apparently the answer is yes.
Looks like a blast, with the lone disappointment being that the Alpe is a ladies only ride. For those who are shamelessly trying to get quick XP, nothing would beat the a jaunt up the Alpe with the spinner at the top to add 250 or 1000 on top of the 1000 you’ll get from double XP on the way up. One could legitimately tally 2000 XP in one hour of riding with a lucky spin. Also, the Alpe is just plain fun.
Not sure how you vakculate 2.000 XP for Road to Sky. 17 kilometer at 40XP is 680XP plus an extra 250 XP for the gloves 😉. The Mountain 8 route will bring 1.280 XP in roughly the same time.
He mentions a lucky spin. This is wheels for someone that already have them. 1000xp
Past double xp events would not have the multiplier applied to the badge routes or any miles ridden after the route was completed. So the ride down the Alp would be normal xp.
Josh R is correct!
So, my thinking was 680 up, 1000 for a lucky spin (which seems to happen quite a lot more now that I don’t need the wheels), and 280 back down . . . gets pretty close to 2000 XP for an hour. Point taken, though, that riding in the front of a group on a longer route with less vertical change would get pretty close to that number (45 kph is realistic in a big group with double draft) in terms of XP/hour. I just happen to like Road to Sky more than any other route.
I’m just about to sign up to Zwift and have just bought a trainer to get some basic fitness up. Are these events (which look fun) suitable for someone who is basically VERY unfit (and happy to come last/just finish), or should I come back next year?
Welcome! You can definitely join the rides and you get double the XP for every single KM you do, and no matter how fast or slow, so yes, it is worth doing even if you don’t finish the ride!
These are excellent events, even if you’re just getting started. There will be a LOT of riders participating, so you’re bound to find someone to ride with.
Heyyy!!! Join, honestly I try and get my gf to join me but she hates coming last, so she never joins. Even if you are unfit your confidence to allow yourself to come last is what other women (my gf) need to join themselves. Plus for you its just up from here 🙂
As already mentioned AND there are special “Rookie rides”.
Double XP is nice, now if there were a level to go to. Unless the goal is to get everyone to Level 50.
Don’t worry! They will eventually release levels 51-100!
Is it double XP double drops or just XP. Since unlocking bikes is good but if you can’t afford them?
Just double your distance XP.
Stoked, tho no Races this year? I really enjoyed TOW last year, great participation numbers made for some rapid group rides and a great intro to Zwift racing. It’s a little ridiculous but the double-XP carrot really is a motivator too.
Zwift has moved away from races in their tours in the last several months. They’re letting ZRL handle the racing!
Pity there are no shoe/hat/helmet/glasses unlocks. With the abundance of kit out there I think these are a lot more desirable. Wearing that pink cap from the Giro challenge is a great flex
Totally agree. I have more than enough jerseys, but I really wish the choice of headgear was more than (a) nothing or (b) one of three ugly helmets. Would love a collection of casquettes.
Thanks Eric!
Maybe a stupid question, but: is the XP you get from completing a new route (badge) will also double?
We know that the badge double the standard XP you did on the route to get the badge (+20XP per kilometer of the new route completed).
So, if you got 40XP every kilometer on a ToW event to get a badge, will the badge give +20XP per kilometer, or +40XP?
Thanks!
Hi Eric,
I just saw your answer below: “I asked my contact at ZHQ who organized ToW, and she said the double XP is only for distance-based XP. It doesn’t apply to +10XP powerups or route badges…”.
Other question: can you complete multiple time the same Stage per week and get the double XP every time, or we can get double XP only by doing every week’s stage once?
Thanks!!
Yes, you can do the same event more than once.
Do you have to do the same category for all stages to be a “finisher” or can you bounce around between A B C E? I’d like to do the A course on one of the stages, but the B course on the next stage.
You just have to complete one route per stage. Doesn’t matter which one
Thanks!
Having never taken part in a group ride on Zwift, is the format simply sign up for whatever ride you fancy and complete it at your own pace ?
Yes. Each stage will have multiple start times to choose from. You start with the group in your chosen start time, and then ride at your own pace, hopefully settling in with other riders at a similar pace. You can stop, get off, go and make a cup of tea, have a toilet break, and get back on and carry on. I think that that you just have to finish it within the same day that you started.
Thanks very much Tony. Much appreciated.
Do you get double elevation points also?
Do you get 40XP per km during the ride? Or do you get normal XP during the ride and then a bonus at end? In other words, can you get double XP if you only do part of the ride?
You get it per km, so you don’t have to finish the ride to benefit from the double XP.
Serpentine 8 climb total is off on stage four. Listed climb total must be for jungle route. S8 is normally about 240m of climb with the leadin.
Fixed!
Way hey, another event on the same tired courses while zwift rakes in millions from us every month. Any chance they’ll bother to design a new course this year??
Hey Neil- I’m just grateful that the game runs without crashing given the influx of riders. I am good for stability and no new courses until resources catch up with the new load levels. Once that happens, yeah, roll out new stuff.
It is too bad that they don’t have it setup so that men can ride the C length ride as a mixed sex ride. A ride is the longest, B and E, the standard ride is the shortest, often by quite a bit. The C ride falls nicely in the middle as far as distance is concerned. From my standpoint, it looks like the C ride would often be my ride of choice. If I was really ambitious, I would do the C ride, then maybe the A ride if I was feeling ambitious, and then definitely the B ride.… Read more »
Continuing my previous comment – Looking through the list of rides, it seems as though the best and most interesting rides are the C rides. What do we have here-reverse discrimination, saving the best for the ladies? The C rides should be open to all comers, or a separate category that would include men and women should be added.
How come the ladies get to climb the Alpe du Zwift but the men don’t? 🤔
I’m signed up for the Magnificent 8 on Tuesday. Can I also sign up for Sand and Sequoias the next day? And if so, will I get the Double XP for that ride as well?
Yep. And yep!
Thanks!
As a 67 yr old one lung due Cancer, a rider like me could have a dispensation to ride Cat C? now Cat D disappeared as was often women only. Cats B&E is a mismatch and the tour looks a bit like a ‘Macho-Fest’ to me with my 159 FTP?
They aren’t based on power. They are all based on distance. All abilities will be lined up for each option.
Any chance you can schedule a meet-up for a stage and still earn double points or do you have to sign up for actual events?
Will completing a route/badge for the first time give you 2x the XP as well?
Apologies, I see below my answer.. No double xp it seems.. too bad!
Thanks for your content though
I’m in the middle of a training plan (week 7 of Build me up) is there anyway I can participate and stay on my plan?
All i see in Zwift top left corner are greyed out Numbers 1 to 5.. I thought it would start today, how do I actually ride the different Stages?!
Sign up for the events in Companion or online, just like any other Zwift event. As you complete them, those greyed out numbers will fill in.
Joined a minute late … first-timer, didn’t know what screen to be on to start the Stage. It dropped me in mid-ride, and at the end there was no fanfare or completion message. Does that mean “sorry, no credit for the stage”? I can’t see anywhere that tells me I completed a stage, and no new “kit.”
Answered my own question: You don’t get credit for a stage unless you are joined in advance … no credit for the stage for a late join as in past Tour de Zwift rides. You do get 2x XP for whatever you rode, however. Also, the double XP doe not end when the ride ends, so keep on riding past the finish to keep accumulating points. The earlier comment about Alpe du Zwift, you would get points for the ride down. You could do an easy ride, and then just keep going to score some easy level-ups, if so inclined!
So obviously I’m missing the point.
I dropped into a rookie ride to try to get a feel for the whole Zwift group thing.
Never saw a ride leader.
Never received a RL message.
Couldn’t give ride ons except to individuals by poking away at my tablet, trying to ‘hit’ the rider who seems to be under my triangle icon, which seemed to be a different colour than usual.
What have I done wrong?
I’ve managed to post this to TOW2021 FAQ.
Would delete the original post if I knew how 🙂
Hi, Can you tell me if there will be make up days for events that have been missed?
Just seen it!!
Have completed 3 stages of the 2021 ToW..The Zwift app & Strava show that I completed those 3 stages and provide all the stats from those events. However, when I log on to Zwift it still shows stage 2 not completed. How can I correct this without having to undertake a catchup later on?
All you can do is contact Zwift support. Hopefully they’ll fix it for ya.
I completed stage 4 today, but now it doesn’t show that I did. What went wrong?
I have exactly the same – my position also didn’t show at all around the ride – I know it normally doesn’t show during lead-in, but didn’t during the full route. I’m assuming it’ll take a little time to show it’s been completed (hopefully), but not seeing the position really takes a little motivation out, as although not a race, it’s nice to have a position in mind for pacing or motivation.
This happened with Stage 2 and when i did the B ride it gave me the credit.Has happened again to me as well on Stage 4.Assume you have to contact Support as said above.
Also someone has posted about it on the Zwift forums stating the same about Stage 4 but should be another post about when it happened on Stage 2.
Have just spotted it’s updated now, looks like it was just slow to process. Still not sure why position wasn’t showing in the ride, hope they haven’t removed it from group rides.