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    Routes & Maps

    Zwift’s 5 Most Popular Race Routes

    Eric Schlange
    By Eric Schlange
    January 10, 2019
    LAST UPDATED January 8, 2019
    0

    Which race routes are the most popular, and why do you suppose that is? Recently ZwiftPower.com webmaster James Hodges produced a report for me summarizing which routes have been used the most by race organizers in the past three months.

    It is worth noting that this report isn’t based on participation (that is, number of racers) but on which routes were selected by race organizers.

    #1: Watopia Flat Route

    No big surprise here, as this is the most popular route in-game. For all our talk about wanting big climbs, Zwifters gravitate towards the flat stuff. This, I believe, is why ZwiftHQ is working on bringing more flat roads to Watopia soon–because this route is quite crowded when freeriding on Watopia days.

    Of course, this route isn’t completely flat: the slight climb up from Ocean Boulevard can be painful in a race, and the ramp into the Esses is where attacks always happen. But overall this is an exceptionally flat course, built for the wattage bazookas.

    Learn more about Watopia’s Flat Route >

    #2: Volcano Circuit CCW

    The “CCW” is key, because in the clockwise direction you don’t have a long enough climb to make things interesting. This is a super-fun crit course with one kicker per lap and a hard-to-nail finish. It’s one of my favorites and a favorite of many racers, so it’s no surprise seeing it at #2.

    Learn more about Watopia’s Volcano Circuit >

    #3: London Classique

    As a very flat course with a single kicker per lap, the Classique is sort of London’s version of Volcano Circuit CCW, but with a simpler finish. It’s a fun race course, especially if you get the feather powerup so you can attack on the kicker and put fellow racers in the hurt locker.

    Learn more about London’s Classique >

    #4: Volcano Flat

    This route is just a bit flatter than Watopia Flat, with no significant climbs to speak of. It’s not a favorite because it’s interesting for racers: it’s a favorite because it’s so flat. It’s not one of my favorites, although in the reverse direction the dirt climb up to the Italian Village is fun.

    Learn more about Watopia’s Volcano Flat >

    #5, 6, and 7: Volcano Climb Watopia Hilly Route, Greater London Flat

    We have a climbing route, a flat route, and a mixed route all tied for fifth place. How strange! Volcano Climb is the surprise here for me, since it features (by far) the largest climb of any route in our top 5 list. Why do you suppose it is a favorite of race organizers? My guess is it’s because 1) it’s on everyone’s favorite course, Watopia and 2) the Volcano climb is just long enough to force a split between many of the pure climbers and pure flatlanders. The Hilly KOM isn’t long enough to do this, and the Epic KOM is so long that it can become a TT and turn racers off.

    Learn more about Watopia’s Volcano Climb >

    Learn more about Watopia’s Hilly Route >

    Learn more about Greater London Flat >

    Complete Report

    Here is Jame’s complete report of all routes used in races on the last 3 months.

    Total races in last 3 months: 4,433

    1. 9.1%    Watopia Flat Route
    2. 8.4%    Volcano Circuit CCW
    3. 6.9%    London Classique
    4. 5.5%    Volcano Flat
    5. 4.4%    Volcano Climb
    6. 4.4%    Watopia Hilly Route
    7. 4.4%    Greater London Flat
    8. 3.8%    Laguardia Loop
    9. 3.8%    Astoria Line 8
    10. 3.6%    Watopia Figure 8
    11. 3.5%    London Loop
    12. 3.4%    The 6 Train
    13. 3.2%    Jungle Circuit
    14. 2.7%    Innsbruckring
    15. 2.3%    Park Perimeter Rev
    16. 2.0%    Laguardia Loop Rev
    17. 2.0%    Park Perimeter Loop
    18. 1.9%    The 6 Train Rev
    19. 1.9%    Road to Ruins
    20. 1.6%    The Highline
    21. 1.6%    Lady Liberty
    22. 1.5%    Volcano Circuit
    23. 1.3%    Knickerbocker
    24. 1.2%    Watopia Mountain 8
    25. 1.2%    UCI Worlds Short Lap
    26. 1.1%    Everything Bagel
    27. 0.9%    Greatest London Flat
    28. 0.8%    Richmond UCI Worlds
    29. 0.8%    Greater London Loop
    30. 0.8%    Road to Sky
    31. 0.8%    Rising Empire
    32. 0.8%    Three Sisters
    33. 0.7%    Mighty Metropolitan
    34. 0.7%    Greatest London Loop
    35. 0.7%    Surrey Hills
    36. 0.6%    Richmond Flat Roads
    37. 0.6%    Triple Loops
    38. 0.5%    Greater London 8
    39. 0.5%    Lutscher
    40. 0.4%    Watopia Figure 8 Reverse
    41. 0.4%    Achterbahn
    42. 0.4%    Tour of Fire and Ice
    43. 0.4%    Watopia Mountain
    44. 0.3%    Innsbruckring KOM
    45. 0.3%    The London Pretzel
    46. 0.3%    5K Loop
    47. 0.3%    Volcano Flat KOM
    48. 0.2%    Big Loop
    49. 0.2%    The Highline Rev
    50. 0.2%    Lutscher CCW
    51. 0.2%    Grand Central
    52. 0.1%    Leith Hill After Party
    53. 0.1%    Hudson Roll
    54. 0.1%    London PRL Half
    55. 0.1%    Watopia Pretzel
    56. 0.1%    London 8
    57. 0.1%    Richmond Hilly Roads
    58. 0.1%    Shuman Trail Loop
    59. 0.1%    London Classique Reverse
    60. 0.0%    Grand Central Rev

    What Do You Think?

    Did your favorite course make the top 5 (7)? What characteristics make an ideal race course for you?

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      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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