Zwift launches new road and eight new routes as Watopia expands

Indoor training app's virtual world is getting bigger with 19km of new roads

Clock14:33, Thursday 26th October 2023
Zwift's new road in Watopia

© Zwift

Zwift's new road in Watopia

Zwift has added 19 kilometres of totally new roads to Watopia, with the Coastal Causeway linking existing virtual worlds and sparking the creation of eight new routes.

Zwift first announced the planned introduction of a new road last month, but it has now been set live, with all users on the 1.51 version of the game to have access by Friday 27 October.

The Coastal Causeway will also feature on the fifth stage of the Tour of Watopia, which begins on Monday 30 October. After that, however, only Zwift users of level 10 or above will be able to ride the new road and the associated new routes.

Read more: A beginner’s guide to Zwift

“Like a new road into a previously hard-to-reach part of a national park, the new coastal causeway will enable cyclists to enjoy natural and cultural wonders of Watopia that have been completely unreachable by bike until now,” read a press release from Zwift.

The Coastal Causeway is found on the Southern Coast of Watopia, linking the Fuego Flats with the Mayan Jungle. The terrain is relatively flat, and there are four new sprint segments along the way: Stoneway Spring, Acropolis Sprint, Sasquatch Spring, and Woodland Sprint.

“The Southern Coast contains some of the most lush and diverse parts of Watopia, and offers some of the most stunning views on the whole island,” Zwift says.

“The new road will take cyclists to never-before-seen locales and settlements that are excited to welcome cyclists, share their unique character, and are sure to become a favorite destination for all kinds of riders.”

The new road has enabled Zwift to link up various sections of Watopia, and the release is accompanied by the introduction of eight new routes, two of which finish atop Watopia’s key climbs, Alpe du Zwift and Epic KOM.

Read more: Zwift introduces the 'virtual coffee stop'

The new routes

  • Coast Crusher (34km, 172m elevation gain)
  • The Big Ring (48km, 268m elevation gain)
  • Accelerate to Elevate (41km, 1,152m elevation gain)
  • Shorelines and Summits (46km, 776m elevation gain)
  • Sugar Cookie (33km, 250m elevation gain)
  • Going Coastal (16km, 63m elevation gain)
  • Temple Trek (6km, 25m elevation gain)
  • Canopies and Coastlines (22km, 124m elevation gain)

The new road offers a new upgrade to Zwift’s flagship world but it is also set to form the backbone for further expansion of Watopia in the future.

“In the future, Watopia’s construction planners expect to use the new causeway as a backbone for additional new roads, giving Zwifters access to other remote parts of Watopia that are not currently developed for cycling.”

Read more: Zwift announce a raft of new features for winter training season

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