Route Maps & Details for Zwift’s Yorkshire Course

One of six routes rolled out with Zwift’s UCI 2019 Worlds map, “2019 UCI Worlds Harrogate Circuit” covers the actual finishing circuit which the world’s top road racers will race in September’s 2019 UCI Worlds events.

The women’s elite riders will cover 3 laps after their lead in segment, while the men’s elite riders will do 7 laps.

Route Description

Roll through the start/finish banner in Harrogate, then turn right to head up Otley Road, the longest section of straight road on the Yorkshire course. As you make your way out of Harrogate proper you’ll find yourself in the farm lands. Look for sheep, cows, and a friendly farmer on his tractor.

The Yorkshire KOM begins when you hit the stone bridge and turn a sharp left. The stream crossed here is called Oak Beck (“Beck” is used often in Yorkshire for a small river or stream). In real life, this bridge is narrow and crossing-controlled by traffic lights to be one way. But we Zwifters get to roll on through.

Hit that KOM, enjoy your descent, then turn a sharp left past the Royal Pumproom onto Millionaire’s Row. You’re now on Cornwall Road, in the Duchy Estate–one of the poshest places in all of England to live.

Your next right takes you onto the forward sprint, a short but punchy effort which is mostly uphill until the final few meters. Finish that sprint, enjoy your descent, and wrap up your loop of the Duchy Estate. (Note: the sprint is so short that Strava will not let us create a segment.)

You will pass the Royal Pumproom again (this time on your right). In the 18th and 19th centuries, Harrogate made its fortune by drawing often wealthy people to come and take its waters, which had a supposedly curative effect. Known locally as “The Pump Rooms”, this is one location where these waters emerged from the ground.

As you turn the last right before the finish, note the Zwift Draft House on your left. This is the Cold Bath Brewery where Zwift is setting up shop and giving away its own custom brews during 2019 Worlds Week.

Almost there! The straightaway to the finish is uphill, so if you’re racing be ready for an especially challenging effort in these final meters. You will pass “Scotty’s” on the left, which in real life is Betty’s Tearooms, a huge local landmark.

This final sprint is where Mark Cavendish famously crashed out of the 2014 Tour de France. Happily, Zwifters don’t need to worry about such dangers, but you can certainly appreciate the massive effort put forth in this final drag to the finish.

Special thanks to Simon Schofield from the Zwiftcast for helping us put together these route notes. Simon is a Yorkshireman who has ridden these roads hundreds of times, so his local knowledge proved invaluable to us and to Zwift, who used his input to create and name Yorkshire’s routes.

Reverse Version

There is a reverse version of this route, but it is event-only and thus only used for official events. See Strava segment below.

Profile

There isn’t much that is flat in Yorkshire, but the climbs are never long, either.

Route details:
Distance: 13.8km (8.6 miles)
Elevation Gain: 240m (787′)
Strava Segment (Banner to Banner)Strava Segment (from Start Pens)Strava Segment (Reverse, Banner to Banner) Strava Segment (Reverse, from Start Pens)

One of six routes rolled out with Zwift’s UCI 2019 Worlds map, “Duchy Estate” covers the smaller northern portion of the course in a clockwise direction.

Route Description

The actual Duchy Estate loop is rectangular and 3km long, but it begins with a lead-in of approximately 1.8km from a spawn point located in central Harrogate before the start/finish and start pens. You will pass the Royal Pump Room on your right as storefronts turn to homes and you arrive on “Millionaires’ Row”.

This road is part of the Duchy Estate loop, but you are still in the lead-in portion since the loop begins and ends at the sprint banner just up the road. Climb up Cornwall Road, then turn a hard right and sprint up hill to the banner and your Duchy Estate loop has officially begun.

The sprint in this direction is short and punchy. So short, in fact, that Strava won’t allow a segment to be created for it!

The residential area you are riding through is an extremely desirable piece of real estate, and one of the poshest places in the whole of England to live. Fun fact: all the land is owned by the Duke of Lancaster who is, in fact, the Queen.

After you descend Kent Road and climb Cornwall Road for a second time you will have one final sprint effort to finish your lap. You can, of course, keep riding and put in as many laps as you’d like.

Profile

There isn’t much that is flat in Yorkshire, and this route is no exception. The loop itself is basically a climb to the sprint banner, a descent down, and repeat.

Route details:
Distance: 3km (1.9 miles)
Elevation Gain: 37m (121′)
Strava Segment (Lead In from Start Banner)Strava Segment (Loop Only)

One of six routes rolled out with Zwift’s UCI 2019 Worlds map, “Queen’s Highway” covers the smaller northern portion of the course in a counter-clockwise direction. It is the reverse version of the Duchy Estate route.

Route Description

The actual Queen’s Highway loop is rectangular and 3km long, but it begins with a lead-in of approximately 2.4km from the regular spawn point located in central Harrogate north of the start/finish and start pens. You will pass the Royal Pump Room on your right as you make your way north to the Cairn Hotel.

This road is part of the Queen’s Highway loop, but you are still in the lead-in portion since the loop begins and ends at the sprint banner at the top of the climb. Climb up Kent Road, and give the long sprint all you’ve got. Once you’re through the banner your Queen’s Highway loop has officially begun.

(Warning: the sprint segment is uphill and rather long–almost 400 meters! So you’ll have to pace yourself.)

The residential area you are riding through is an extremely desirable piece of real estate, and one of the poshest places in all of England to live. Fun fact: all the land is owned by the Duke of Lancaster who is, in fact, the Queen.

After you descend Cornwall Road you will climb past the Cairn Hotel again and up Kent Road for one final sprint effort to finish your lap. You can, of course, keep riding and put in as many laps as you’d like.

Profile

There isn’t much that is flat in Yorkshire, and this route is no exception. The loop itself is basically a descent from the sprint banner, then a climb back up to sprint again.

Route details:
Distance: 3km (1.9 miles)
Elevation Gain: 37m (121′)
Strava Segment (with Lead In)Strava Segment (Loop Only)

One of six routes rolled out with Zwift’s UCI 2019 Worlds map, “Royal Pump Room 8” is a “figure of 8” route which covers all roads in both directions. This is the longest Yorkshire route in game.

About the Name

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Harrogate made its fortune by drawing often wealthy people to come and drink its waters, which had a supposedly curative effect. Known to locals as “The Pump Rooms”, the Royal Pump Room is one location where these odorous, sulfurous waters emerged from the ground.

The building is located on course at the main intersection, where the northern and southern loops come together.

Route Description

From the spawn point, you will ride under the start banner then north to the Queen’s Highway loop. This is the smaller, northern loop of the Yorkshire course, and you ride it here first in a counter-clockwise direction. This northern loop contains the Yorkshire sprint segments (a different segment in each direction), and this time around you will hit the longer sprint.

Next, you will proceed through the start/finish banner and onto the much larger, southern loop portion of the course, in a clockwise direction. YRide up the forward KOM segment, then catch your breath as you descend to the next portion.

Now it’s back to the northern loop, this time in a clockwise direction. This small loop makes up the Duchy Estate route. Finish this loop and head south for one more lap of the big loop, this time in a counter-clockwise direction, beginning with the reverse KOM segment. The route finishes at the start/finish banner.

Profile

There isn’t much that is flat in Yorkshire, and you’re covering all those lumpy roads in both directions. Enjoy!

Route details:
Distance: 27.2km (16.9 miles)
Elevation Gain: 480m (1574′)
Strava Segment (Banner to Banner)

One of six routes rolled out with Zwift’s UCI 2019 Worlds map, “Tour of Tewit Well” covers the larger southern portion of the course in a counter-clockwise direction.

About the Name

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Harrogate made its fortune by drawing often wealthy people to come and drink its waters, which had a supposedly curative effect.

Tewit Well was discovered in 1596, and named after the local word for peewit or lapwing, a bird common to the Stray parkland where the well is located.

Route Description

Beginning before the start/finish banner, you will quickly turn left near the Royal Pump Room and begin the reverse KOM segment. Finish that climb then descend down the backside and over the Oak Beck stone bridge.

Most of the loop after this point is fairly straight roads at gentle inclines, except for the Pot Bank section which will surprise you with its short, steep climb (15%).

In real life, this is a twisty, narrow bridge. Zwift has retained the steep descent and curves but widened the roads for our safety.

Make your way through the fields, wave hello to the friendly farmers and their cows and sheep, and you’ll find yourself back in Harrogate soon enough. The route ends as you cross the start/finish banner.

Profile

There isn’t much that is flat in Yorkshire, and this route is no exception. This route includes a KOM segment and longer sections of more gradual climbing and descending.

Route details:
Distance: 10.4km (6.5 miles)
Elevation Gain: 200m (655′)
Strava Segment (Banner to Banner)