By 
The 2018 UCI Road World Championships, going down in Innsbruck-Tirol, Austria, this fall, are rumored to be the hilliest, and maybe the toughest, in a generation. Now, thanks to Zwift, you can judge that for yourself. The indoor cycling app this week unveiled an in-game replica of the real-life course, so get ready to climb the Alps like the pros—digitally, at least.
Zwift engineers, working with Road Worlds’ organizing committee, scouted the notoriously demanding course so they could draw, digitize, and render this new challenge. The finished product focuses on the 15-mile “Olympic Lap,” which the men will tackle seven times and the women three times during the actual race. The lap includes a crushing 5-mile climb and passes through the scenic old town of Innsbruck, known as the “Capital of the Alps.”
An early release of a real-world championship course should dial up the intensity of the race itself, as riders are aiming to commit much of the course to memory before ever stepping foot in Austria. (A previous Road Worlds course, from the 2015 edition in Richmond, Virginia, is also playable on Zwift.)
More From Bicycling
“The lead contenders will certainly be performing course reconnaissance in the coming months as is the norm,” Austria’s Bernhard Eisel, of Team Dimension Data, said in a press release. “However, what is new is the ability to repeatedly train on a key segment of the course and understand when the best moments to attack will come.”
Zwift released the course on August 2, which gives contenders nearly two months to do remote recon before the September 23 race start. However, the course is open to all users regardless of experience level, so the rest of the Zwifting community can ride alongside the pros as they prepare.
The Innsbruck-Tirol course will also remain on Zwift after the championships have ended, so users can continue to ride this beautiful, lung-busting Alpine climb. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to check out the game’s other, existing Zwift Alpine Course challenge.
