News: The online cycling platform Zwift has presented Scotland, its newest game world. Inspired by the Scottish landscape and the city of Glasgow, each Zwift Scotland course is designed for training and competition. This brand new game world will also host the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships on February 18th.
The new Zwift world of Scotland is the first to be built specifically for the UCI Cycling Esports World Championships. Five tracks are included at launch, three of which will be contested in the exciting new multi-format race that will also determine the 18 Esports World Champions on February 2023th.
The Scotland of the Zwift universe was inspired by the city of Glasgow - the venue for the 2023 UCI World Cycling Championships - and the stunning Scottish countryside. The new routes pass castles, moors, lochs, beinns (Gaelic for mountains), sgurrs (rocky peaks) and Glasgow-inspired townscapes. One insider tip is that Zwifters should also keep an eye out for Scottish Easter Eggs on their ride.
The Zwift courses in Scotland
There are five routes in Scotland, giving Zwifters a total of 58,8 miles to explore, cycle and race:
Rolling Highlands – 14,1 kilometers with 105 meters in altitude. On this rollercoaster ride around the lake, Zwifters are constantly going up or down. In competitions, the crisp course offers many opportunities to attack. In training, the course offers the best opportunities for interval training. t.
City and the Sgurr – 8,6 kilometers with 161 meters in altitude. Sgurr means 'rocky peak' in Scottish Gaelic and this route tackles Zwift's recent climb from two directions. Roundabouts at the bottom of both sides mean Zwifters can easily circle the climb, making it the perfect spot for multiple climbs or very challenging races!
Glasgow Crit Circuit – 3 kilometers with 33 meters in altitude. Located in the heart of Glasgow city centre, Zwift's newest crit course showcases the city's distinctive architecture. The course has short, crisp climbs, narrow, winding roads and two archways. The course offers options for any distance racing on an easy track that is sure to make for intense competition.
hole loop – 8 kilometers with 71 meters of altitude difference. This long, manageable route is mostly flat and includes some of the Rolling Highlands but omits the bigger climbs and offers only a few rolling hills for Zwifters. The course is 5 miles long making it perfect for 5, 10, 15 or 20 mile time trials or team time trials. For traditional racing, exploring and training, the Loch Loop also offers a flatter alternative to the Rolling Highlands.
The Muckle Yin – 25,1 kilometers with 279 meters in altitude. A single route that combines almost all Scottish roads in one big loop. The route begins in the heart of Glasgow city center and quickly takes riders up the steep cliffs of Scotland's west coast before heading north to the 'loch' and then on to fantastic views along the way. This challenging circuit is a ride or race to discover all of Scotland's distinctive and fascinating features.
When can I start exploring Scotland on Zwift?
Scotland will initially only be available for events and races. The first opportunity for Zwifters to ride Scotland is during Stage 8 of the Tour de Zwift from February 3rd to 12th. Ride Scotland and Race Scotland events are scheduled from February 6th to March 7th for those who miss the Tour de Zwift or want more time to ride the new map. February's ZRacing series will also take place on the Scotland map. Completing a ZRacing or Ride Scotland event on the new map will unlock a Zwift Tartan Cycling kit. Scotland will be available for Free Ride, Club Events and Meetups from early March.
The UCI Cycling Esports World Championships will be held on the Scottish map on February 18th. Details, including a description of the race format, can be found here.