The Tour de France race organiser, the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), and Zwift, the world's most widely used virtual training software, have joined forces to develop a project that should help cycling fans pass the time until the race resumes in August. Over six days in July, six professional men's races and three professional women's races will be held on virtual routes, most of which are modelled on well-known Tour de France routes.
Tour de France routes on Zwift
In recent years, the American company has already Zwift is increasingly focussing on the replication of real racetracks known from professional sport. The circuits of the 2015 (Richmond), 2018 (Innsbruck) and 2019 (Yorkshire) Cycling World Championships were transferred to 3D landscapes with great attention to detail. Zwift was also at the start of the 2019 Giro in Bologna with a 3D copy.
However, the new project in collaboration with the ASO exceeds all previously known dimensions: Eight new virtual routes were presented, including Mont Ventoux and the Champs Élysées in Paris, two icons of Tour de France history. "I can't imagine the month of July without cycling," says Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France. "Thanks to the virtual Tour de France, which will also be broadcast on many TV channels, the professional cyclists and their fans will fill the gap left by the Tour de France in July, which will not come together again until 29 August in Nice."
Zwift race series for everyone
In addition to the professional racing series (see below for details), an amateur racing series entitled "L'Étape du Tour de France Virtual" will also be organised. In addition, all new routes will be available to all Zwift users for unlimited training or solo rides from July.
All Zwift races of the "Virtual Tour de France"
The familiar Tour de France classification jerseys for the best climber, sprint king and overall leader will be retained. However, the individual classification of the yellow jersey is based on a points system, not on the overall time: The background: All teams can completely replace their four riders after each stage.
23 professional men's teams and 17 professional women's teams have confirmed their participation, including Bora Hansgrohe, Team INEOS, CANYON//SRAM Racing, Deceuninck - Quick-Step and many other World Tour teams. Confirmed riders for the men's race include Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Egan Bernal and Greg Van Avermaet. Marianne Vos and Anna Van der Breggen are both registered for the women's race.
The first two stages of the men's race and the opening stage of the women's race will be held on the Zwift World "Watopia", and only then will the new routes be used. All races will be broadcast live on Eurosport 1. The virtual Tour de France will be broadcast in over 130 countries. The exact start times are not yet known.
The Zwift racing series for men:
- 1st stage, Saturday, 01.07: Watopia, 36.4 km (4 laps of 9.1 km each)
- Stage 2, Sunday, 05 July: Watopia, 29.5 km
- Stage 3, Saturday, 11.07: North-East France, 48 km
- Stage 4, Sunday, 12 July: Southwest France, 45.8 km (2 laps of 22.9 km each)
- Stage 5, Saturday, 18.07: Mont Ventoux, 22.9 km
- Stage 6, Sunday, 19 July: Paris Champs-Elysées, 42.8 km (6 laps of the circuit)
The Zwift racing series for women:
- 1st stage, 4.07. and 5.07.: Watopia, 29.5 km (682 m of ascent, mountain stage)
- 2nd stage, 11.07 and 12.07: South-west France, 45.8 km (2 laps of 22.9 km each)
- Stage 3, 18.07. and 19.07.: Mont Ventoux, 22.9 km
The Virtual Tour de France will be part of Tour de France United, a charity initiative to celebrate the Tour de France, which will run until the conclusion of the rescheduled Tour de France in August. The races will raise funds for five charity partners: Emmaüs, Secours Populaire, Jeugdfonds Sport en Cultuur, BiJeWa and Qhubeka.
You can find more information about the virtual Tour de France here.
