Can someone please explain Tour de Zwift...
 

So I just got a Wahoo Kickr and signed up for Zwift today. I’m reading up on how the “Tour de Zwift” works and it looks like a fun way to motivate myself to get on the bike more, but I’m confused about how exactly it works and both the Zwift and Zwift Insider websites do not really clarify the details.

So I get that there are 8 stages, each with designated groups (for length/difficulty), routes, and time frames. I’m a little confused about the distance requirements for completing each stage.

For example, the route listed for Stage 1; Group A (longer ride) is “Greater London Flat” which is 7.2 miles, whereas Stage 1: Group B (standard length ride) is Volcano Flat which is 7.6 miles. I imagine you are required to do multiple laps of the route as part of the stage, but I can’t find anywhere where it lists what the total mileage required to complete the stage is. Is this info listed somewhere?

Are riders required to ride every day, or just a total number of miles/laps in the given timeframe for each stage?

I’m working from home, so I can probably hop on every day but I need to plan how many miles I can realistically complete given my time constraints due to work. Any insight from people who have done this before would be greatly appreciated!

Ok, for me...when I go to the Zwift website for the tour....

https://www.zwift.com/tour-de-zwift/ride/stage1

It shows "A", "B", "C" categories on the right side of the page. Clicking the category provides a dropdown.

For Stage 1, Category A - Longer Ride

Greater London Flat

1. Laps
   3
2. Distance
   40.7 KM
3. Elevation
   204.4 M
4. W/KG
   1-5

That's what it shows for me. Do you see something different?

Once the we get closer, individual stages will show up on the Companion app and on their website. This is where you get signed up, and where all the stage specifics will be listed (total distance, # of laps, etc.). All you need to do is sign up for a particular category of the stage and complete the event (typically the "A" distance levels are somewhere around 25-30 miles, or just hillier than the other options).

Usually they run each stage for a couple days with several time slots each day to choose from. Complete one of the categories for each of the stages and you complete the Tour.

Isn’t that for the 2019 event? (The hashtag at the bottom indicates it is, and there are only groups A/B/C where this one has a group D as well, and it looks like the route is different from what is planned this year).

That does sort of answer my question, as more it appears clear that there are different lap requirements per stage/group, but I can’t find the info for the upcoming event.

I updated my last post. :D

Excellent, thank you for the help.

I see they want you to sign up for a particular date/time for each stage/group ahead of time, do you know if there is any way to just sort of hop in and do the stage on your own, outside a scheduled group ride (but still within the timeframe for the stage)?

Tour de Zwift stages are repeated for 3-4 days and then they move on to the next stage. A group is always the longest and C group the shortest, the D group is the women’s group. For stage one group ‘A’ is 40.7km, I expect the group speeds that I can do to be around 40-45km/hr, of course you might be faster, so ‘A’ will take about an hour or slightly less. Group C is 19.8km, so it will take <30mins.

No problem.

There are 50 times across the 5 days for each stage. You can't make any of those 50 times? I don't think there is a way to do it outside of those times, though I would imagine they have "late join" enabled. I can't confirm that though, so don't take my word for it. Again, they have 50 times (10 start times per day) across the 5 days for each stage. I'd plan on trying to make one of those times. Even if you don't plan ahead, you can sign up almost anytime and have a ride starting in the next couple of hours.

I did sign up for stages 1 and 2 but just wanted to check, as juggling my workouts with work and getting kids ready for zoom (distance learning) can be difficult.

I’m defaulting to the eeeearly morning time slots :twitchy:

I definitely understand where you're coming from, I have 3 minions and dealing with that, my work schedule, and everything else proves difficult at times. I would say maybe submit a ticket to Zwift and ask them if they will allow late join for the actual Tour de Zwift rides. Maybe you'll get a response before it starts. :) Since these are group rides though...I'm thinking if they do late join, it will start you in the middle of the ride...so that wouldn't be helpful if you're trying to complete the whole route for the badge or whatever the rewards are for doing the Tour.

Hey, found this post from last year's Tour de Zwift. Looks like they did allow late join, and you still got the badge even if not riding the whole route. Up to 30 minutes after the start.

https://www.******.com/r/Zwift/comme...ft_rides_when/