These days, you don’t even have to leave your house to tackle a challenging mountain pass. Alongside the Zwift Ventoux (Ven-Top), you can also virtually conquer another mythical pass with the help of Zwift. I’m referring to Alpe d’Huez, the famous pass with its 21 hairpin bends. I’ve climbed the Alpe du Zwift, as the virtual version is called, several times now.
In this review, I’ll share more about my experiences, what I thought of it, and how you can also conquer this pass.
Alpe du Zwift routes
You can find the Alpe du Zwift climb in Watopia, the first and largest world within Zwift. Unlike the other worlds, which are available alternately, Watopia is always accessible.
In Watopia, there are now three different routes that include the Alpe du Zwift climb:
- Road to Sky 17,3 km (10,75 mi) / 1045 m (3428 feet) elevation gain
- Tour of Fire and Ice 25,1 km (15,59 mi) / 1166 m (3825 feet) elevation gain
- Four Horsemen 89,3 km (55,52 mi) / 2112 m (6929 feet) elevation gain
Alpe du Zwift level
If I’m not mistaken, and if I remember correctly, you can only climb the Alpe du Zwift from Level 6 onwards. At least, that’s how it was before I climbed it for the first time. However, reaching Level 6 isn’t all that difficult if you rack up some kilometers occasionally in this virtual cycling world.
Once you reach or surpass Level 6, you can theoretically climb the Alpe du Zwift daily. If you’re not yet at Level 6 and still want to tackle this mythical ascent right away, you can still ride this route in two ways:
On one hand, you can tackle the climb by participating in a group event where the pass is included. Additionally, you can ride with a friend, provided they already have access and have reached at least Level 6.
Segments and Statistics
Regardless of which route you choose to climb, the Alpe du Zwift, the ascent always looks the same. The 21 bends are neatly displayed on the screen on the right side, allowing you to count down until the first bend, where the end finally comes into view.
On the left side of the screen, you get an overview of the distance to cover between each bend. If you’ve climbed the Alpe du Zwift before, you’ll also see your current PR. Each passage from bend to bend is also a segment on Strava.
The virtual ascent of this mountain is 12.2 km (7.6 miles) long, during which you’ll climb 1036 meters (3398 feet) in elevation. The average gradient is 8.5%.
My experiences with this virtual mountain
Having ascended the Alpe du Zwift several times already, I certainly plan to conquer it again in the future. To me, it provides an accessible means of accumulating elevation gain during the winter months.
Early Stages
To climb the Alpe du Zwift, I almost always opt for the shortest route, Road to Sky. This route starts with a stretch of 5.5 km (3.42 miles) that mostly rolls smoothly and is primarily downhill. This allows you to warm up quickly by the time you reach the base of the Alpe du Zwift.
After about 5 km (3.1 miles), the real fun and anticipation finally begin. The start of the climb hits hard right away. Although the bends follow each other quickly, the beginning is very steep, with gradients often showing in red. Red indicates gradients exceeding 10%, with peaks reaching up to 14% in the initial phase. So, it’s immediately time to work hard and endure.
The colors on the screen also indicate that several turns, such as 17, 18, and, outside the view, turn 21, are marked in red. Additionally, the orange hues of turns 19 and 16 signify relatively steep gradients. Fortunately, after that, there are some less steep sections.
I find the color indicators, which you can also see in the gradient display at the top right corner, very helpful. While you can feel the resistance change on the trainer depending on the gradient, the colors help me maintain or even increase speed when the slope becomes less steep.
21 hairpin bends
The fact that the bends are numbered is one of the main reasons I enjoy cycling up the Alpe du Zwift. I cycle from bend to bend, and the decreasing numbers motivate me. The distances between each hairpin bend range from 400 to 800 meters (0.25 to 0.5 miles).
The longest stretch between two hairpin bends is from hairpin bend 7 to hairpin bend 6, at 1.16 km (0.72 miles). You pass another bend along the way, but this one doesn’t count. This section always requires a bit of extra effort.
The final stretch
After passing bend 6, it gets a bit easier, partly because you know you’re almost there. Although there’s still 3.5 km (2.17 miles) of climbing ahead, the gradient remains manageable apart from a few spikes. This is where I can usually pick up the pace a bit. With gradients mostly around 8 to 9%, this final section still presents a challenge, especially knowing that you’ve already tackled more than 800 meters (2625 feet) of elevation gain by this point.
After bend 1, it’s just a short 800 meters (0.5 miles) of pedaling to reach the top of Alpe du Zwift. The final 100 meters even descend slightly, or at least it feels that way. After reaching the top, you also have the option to descend Alpe du Zwift. I don’t find that appealing, so I never do it.
Alpe du Zwift vs Ven-Top (Zwift Ventoux)
I’ve climbed the Alpe du Zwift several times now. I find this ascent much more interesting than the Zwift Ventoux, which I’ve tackled before. The Alpe du Zwift is shorter (12.2 km / 7.6 miles vs 19 km / 11.8 miles) but has a higher average gradient of 8.5% vs 7.7%.
Because the Alpe du Zwift is shorter, the climb takes less time, meaning you spend less time on the bike trainer. I try to keep it enjoyable, and sitting on the trainer for too long isn’t pleasant for me in the long run. Hence…
Alpe du Zwift; my experiences, times, and ambitions
The Alpe du Zwift climb is a convenient way for me to train elevation gain during the winter or when the weather outside is really bad. It probably won’t surprise you that I spend most of my time on the indoor trainer during the winter months, as is the case with most cyclists.
Climbing the Alpe
The numbered hairpin bends ensure that the climb never gets boring. Before you know it, you’re rounding the last bend, and the finish line is in sight again. I wasn’t sure what to expect the first time I climbed the Alpe du Zwift. My initial attempt also took the longest time.
Subsequent attempts got faster and faster, and oddly enough, each new climb was 7 minutes faster, almost as if I were doing it intentionally. However, I’m realistic enough to realize that this progress will eventually plateau. Of course, I’m nowhere near the KOM (King of the Mountain), but that’s not my intention anyway.
My best time
My best time on the Alpe du Zwift climb is 1 hour and 11 minutes, with an average speed of 10.3 km/h. Compared to the men’s KOM of 31 minutes and 51 seconds, that’s painfully slow, but hey, I’m only competing against myself!
My goal: sub 1 hour
The Alpe du Zwift will become a regular part of my preparations and training (during winter) for the upcoming (marathon) mountain bike season.
The climb’s length is ideal, especially when you tackle the Alpe via the Road to Sky route. Achieving 1036 meters (3398 feet) of elevation in our region requires spending more than an hour on the bike, which isn’t my favorite activity in winter.
However, I aim to complete the climb in under an hour consistently. There’s definitely room for improvement,…
Final Thoughts
The Alpe du Zwift climb is a perfect way to tackle a mountain pass regularly. At first glance, it may not seem useful or enjoyable for mountain bikers. However, I think it’s a perfect way to train for (extra) elevation gain in the winter. Plus, it doesn’t take up too much time, and thanks to the many statistics, segments, and analyzable data, you can challenge yourself every time.
As I’ve mentioned multiple times in this review, I particularly love the numbered hairpin bends, which never make the climb boring. You can divide the climb into short sections that you can tick off individually. This way, you’ll reach the top faster than you ever thought possible.
If you use Zwift, enjoy climbing, and want to train hard, I highly recommend tackling the Alpe du Zwift climb. It’s a decent challenge for your calves, and where else can you find such a climb in the winter season?
Have you climbed the Alpe du Zwift yet, or are you planning to? Let me know in the comments below. Maybe we’ll meet on this virtual pass some time!
