Cancel your Netflix plans, pack some fresh towels: it's Haute Route Watopia this weekend.
The new event sees premier cycle tour operators Haute Route partner with Zwift for a three-day stage race in the virtual world of Watopia.
Taking place from 3-5 April, Haute Route Watopia will challenge entrants to swap the typical Haute Route destinations of classic climbs in the Alps and Dolomites to complete three classic routes on Zwift.
The tour begins on Friday 3 April with Three Sisters, a 47.8km route tackling the Watopia KOM, Epic Kom and Volcano climbs.
Stage 2 on Saturday, "Tour of Fire and Ice", is set to be a mountain time trial. Riders will rack up 1161m of climbing in just 25km with an ascent of Watopia's answer to Alpe d'Huez, the Alpe du Zwift.
Haute Route Watopia concludes on Sunday with The Pretzel, featuring two major climbs over 72km - the longest stage of the tour.
Each stage will run several times per day, to allow riders in different time zones around the world to take part. Riders will be ranked in a general classification, just like on a real Haute Route event.
Unlike a real Haute Route event there'll be no massages, mechanical support, food stops or broom wagon...but in these days of home confinement it's as close as you'll get to the real thing.
In fact, with the race season suspended, we wouldn't be surprised to see a few pros battling it out for glory... Haute Route Watopia as de facto Grand Tour for 2020?
Haute Route Watopia is free to enter, you just need an indoor trainer connected to Zwift.
Find out more and sign up at www.hauteroute.org.
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