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Zwift Tour de Zwift 2024 | Stage 5

Tonight’s ride was really tough. I wasn’t feeling 100% so I knew it would be a struggle. However, this is a catch-up week in which I need to complete Stages 5 and 7 which for some reason never appeared on my schedule. Stage 5’s A route was Achterbahn in Innsbruck. This is a single loop that goes up and then back over a hill. The climb itself is neither particularly long nor particularly steep but I found it very hard going. So much so that I had to invoke the coffee break facility on the second climb.

This is reflected in the stats on the brilliant Cycling Analytics site where my short-term stress is shown to already be higher than my long-term stress before the ride.

Oh, I’m now at Level 30 and have a nice new top to wear.


RouteAchterbahn
Distance47.7km
Time2h 6m 35s
Elevation990 m
Average Power208 W

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Zwift Tour de Zwift 2024 | Stage 8

Well, the missing stages continue! After Stage 5 mysteriously failed to appear on my calendar, so do was Stage 7 missing. How odd (pun intended!). So I rode Stage 8 this evening, the A Category ride was the 55 km event-only route Spiral into the Volcano. I was feeling pretty fatigued before starting this so I knew it was going to be a hard slog. Indeed it was but I held in and managed to reach Level 29 (!). Now I need to ensure I complete the two missing routes in the catch-up period which feels like it will be quite hard to do.

Tonight’s ride was on a new frame and wheel combo, after I decided to spend some of the drops I’d earned. I bought the Scott Addict RC frame and paired them with some ENVE SES 8.9 wheels. This was someone inspired by the brilliant site Zwifter Bikes.


RouteSpiral into the Volcano
Distance55.8 km
Time1h 34m 19s
Elevation355 m
Average Power240 W

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Zwift Tour de Zwift 2024 | Stage 6

Firstly I’m not sure what happened to Stage 5 – I logged in as normal for my weekly ride only to find Stage 6 presented to me. Oh well – I shall do this on the catch-up week a the end of the event.

Anyway, last night I reached Level 28 and unlocked some Polka Dot socks by completing the sixth stage of the 2024 Tour de Zwift. The Category A route was one I didn’t like the look of at all – Accelerate to Elevate in Watopia… I’ve ridden Alpe du Zift a few times previously but these were always around the 80 – 90 minute mark and completely tiring. This time there would be a 30 km ride just to get there. Two and a half hours later I reached the top of the Alpe and finished about 170/259 so I was pleased with that. A few aches this morning but nothing as bad as I expected.


RouteAccelerate to Elevate in Watopia
Distance43.5 km
Time2h 30m 41s
Elevation1158 m
Average Power215 W

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Zwift Tour de Zwift 2024 | Stage 4

Last night I completed the fourth stage of the 2024 Tour de Zwift. The Category A route was a (thankfully) single lap of Petit Boucle in France. As normal I’d not ridden this route previously but had ridden some of its sections. I thought I’d mix things up a bit and change the wheels to aero ones given the route is mostly flat. Seemed OK but I did struggle on the final climb. This was my longest single ride without a break to date and this morning I am pleased to say I have no aches or pains!
Hey guess what – I’m now Level 27 and have unlocked a nice pair of white shoes…


RoutePetit Boucle in France
Distance61.6 km
Time1h 55m 15s
Elevation483 m
Average Power221 W

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Zwift Tour de Zwift 2024 | Stage 3

So another ride and another levelling up! I don’t like this at all – it seems far too easy to do so. Anyway, I’ve now unlocked the Tour de Zwift 2024 Bucket Hat and some Oversize Glasses. This evening I completed the third stage of the 2024 Tour de Zwift. The Category A route was a single lap of Makuri 40 in the Makuri Islands. I’d not ridden this route before but I had ridden some of its sections. I was quite surprised at how tiring this one was given the lack of climbing.


RouteMakuri 40 in Makuri Islands
Distance40.3 km
Time1h 12m 13s
Elevation313 m
Average Power225 W