Tour of Watopia 2022: Stage and Unlock Details for Riders and Runners

Zwift has just announced its next major event series, and it’s a crowd favorite: the Tour of Watopia featuring double XP!

The 5-stage tour begins March 9 and runs through April 3. With several new routes introduced, PowerUps doubled in duration, and double XP on tap, you can bet Zwifters will be putting in the work to complete stages, earn points, and level up. Because everyone wants those fast bikes and level 50 status!

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 PowerUps

For the first time ever, this year’s ToW includes “double PowerUps” – that is, your PowerUps will last twice as long as usual. Here’s a list of PowerUps and their doubled lengths:

• Lightweight (feather): reduces your weight by 10% for 30 seconds.
  Use on climbs, when weight matters the most.
• Draft Boost (van): increases the draft effect you are experiencing by 50% for 60 seconds. In a double draft event, this powerup will give you 3x the standard draft effect.
  Use at higher speeds (flats and descents) when you are already drafting off another rider (since this powerup only helps when you are drafting.)
• Aero Boost (helmet): makes you more aerodynamic (reduces your CdA by 25%) for 30 seconds.
  Use at higher speeds (flats and descents), especially when no draft is available (although it is still useful when drafting.)

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 in ToW events.

Learn all about run XP and unlocks >

Rebel Routes = Triple XP!

For the first time ever, the ToW is featuring 6 Rebel Routes which have just been added to the game (these are marked below with a *). You will receive an XP bonus upon completing these routes for the first time, and that XP bonus is roughly equal to the distance-based XP you receive while riding/running the route.

With distance-based XP being doubled in ToW events, completing these new Rebel Routes for the first time means you’ll effectively earn triple XP since your distance XP is doubled and you receive bonus XP at the end of the route. It’s time to level up!

New Gravel Surface

Zwift’s press release for ToW includes this intriguing line: Zwift will be laying down gravel over existing dirt for a new way to experience the jungle.

Our sources inside Zwift tell us this is a new event-only surface material never before used in Zwift. We aren’t totally surehow it will behave, but since it’s called “gravel” instead of “dirt” our guess is Zwift will make it perform better for gravel bikes than mountain bikes. We’ll have to ride it to find out!

Ride Stages

Cycling events for ToW use the following category/group setup:

• Group A: Longer Ride
• Group B: Standard Ride
• Group C: Shorter Ride
• Group D: Women Only (same route as Group B)

Stage 1: March 9-12 “Iconic Routes”

• A: Three Little Sisters* – 37.7 km (23.4 miles), 401 m (1,316′), Lead-In: 0.7 km (.43 miles)
• B and D: Figure 8 – 29.8 km (18.5 miles), 234 m (768‘), Lead-In: 0.2 km (.1 miles)
• C: Two Bridges Loop (2 laps) – 14.2 km (8.8 miles), 146 m (480‘)

Stage 2: March 13-16 “Flat Stacks”

• A: Watopia’s Waistband (2 laps) – 51 km (31.6 miles), 190 m (624‘), Lead-In: 2.4 km (1.5 miles)
• B and D: Triple Flat Loops* – 33.9 km (21.1 miles), 134 m (439‘), Lead-In: 2.4 km (1.5 miles)
• C: Tick Tock – 16.8 km (10.4 miles), 44 m (144‘), Lead-In: 2.4 km (1.4 miles)

Stage 3: March 17-20 “The Queen”

• A: Tour of Fire and Ice – 25.5 km (15.8 miles), 1,161 m (3,809‘), Lead-In: 2.8 km (1.7 miles)
• B and D: Road to Sky  – 17.3 km (10.7 miles), 1,045 m (3,428‘), Lead-In: 0.1 km (0.1 miles)
• C: Downtown Titans* – 24.6 km (15.3 miles), 254 m (834‘), Lead-In: .8 km (.5 miles)

Stage 4: March 21-24 “Dirt Drippin’”

• A: Handful of Gravel (5 laps) – 30.5 km (19 miles), 367 m (1,205‘), Lead-In: 4.3 km (2.6 miles)
• B and D: Handful of Gravel (3 laps) – 18.3 km (11.4 miles), 220 m (723′), Lead-In: 4.3 km (2.6 miles)
• C: Handful of Gravel (2 laps) – 12.2 km (7.6 miles), 147 m (482‘), Lead-In: 4.3 km (2.6 miles)

Stage 5: March 25-28 “High Life”

• A: Eastern Eight* – 51.7 km (32.1 miles), 340 m (1,115‘), Lead-In: 2.4 km (1.5 miles)
• B and D: Legends and Lava – 24.5 km (15.2 miles), 321 m (1,053’), Lead-In: 0 km
• C: Whole Lotta Lava  – 12.3 km (7.6 miles), 160 m (525‘), Lead-In: 4.9 km (3 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

Stage 1: March 9-12 “Iconic Routes”

• A: Chili Pepper – 7.9km (4.9 miles)
• B: Chili Pepper Custom Distance – 4.23 km (2.63 miles)

Stage 2: March 13-16 “Flat Stacks”

• A: Tick Tock  – 10 km (6.2 miles)
• B: Italian Villas Sprint* – 4.34 km (2.70 miles)

Stage 3: March 17-20 “The Queen”

• A: 11.1 Ocean Blvd – 10.5 km (6.5 miles)
• B: That’s Amore – 6.73 km (4.2 miles)

Stage 4: March 21-24 “Dirt Drippin’”

• A: Handful of Gravel (1 lap) – 6.1 (3.8 miles), Lead-In: 4.3 km (2.6 miles)
• B: Mayan Bridge Loop* – 5.66 km (3.51 miles)

Stage 5: March 25-28 “High Life”

• A: Jon’s Route – 7.9km (4.9 miles)
• B: Volcano Circuit – 6.8 km (4.2 miles)

See stage details and sign up at zwift.com/tour-of-watopia/run

Make-Up Stages

Missed a stage or two? Or maybe you just want more of that sweet double XP? Make-up stages will be held from March 29-April 3. During those six days, Zwift will host multiple events covering all 5 stages.

Kit Unlocks

There are both cycling and running kits to unlock. Kit unlocks are progressive as you complete the stages:

• Complete 1 Stage: cap
• Complete 3 Stages: off-road/gravel shoes
• Complete 5 Stages: 2022 Tour of Watopia Kit/Running Shirt

IRL ToW Clothing and Accessories

Want to really get into the Tour of Watopia spirit? Zwift has just added 2022 ToW shirts (men’s and women’s), sweatbands, and water bottles to their online shop. Find them here >

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 2022 FAQ discussion in the Zwift forums.