As I watched the Koksijde Classic race on GCN+ I checked my local weather from time to time. Instead of going up the temperature dropped below 60 and the wind came from the NW at 16 mph with 26 mph gusts. After the raced ended I made the call to ride stage 3 of the Tour of Watopia rather than battle another day of strong wind as well as the chill. I chose group C riding a route new to me, “Downtown Titans.” Zwift’s February 2022 update included this route as an event-only route that awards an achievement badge.

Stage 3 carried the Queen Stage label which meant climbing. I wasn’t sure exactly how much climbing. According to ZwiftInsider.com and the route basics there would be 833 feet of climbing but the Zwift companion app signup showed 958 and 968. It turned out to be 958 feet over 15.46 miles. It took me 51:26 to ride that far. Most of the vertical riding came on the two KOM’s but the terrain rolled too.

Most of the ride the nearby riders showed 1120 to 1136. I slotted in around 905 to 925 most of the time. I rode with a group at the start but not for long. Then I passed some and some passed me. Sometimes 3 or 4 Zwifters were near. According to ZwiftPower.com I finished 638 out of 690 in group C. Group A contained 33, group B 84, and group D 2. Stage 3 is almost finished so the larger crowds were probably earlier.

At the end of the ride I earned the route badge and Tour of Watopia 2022 MTB shoes. Two new personal records too in Zwift. From Strava: PR on Hilly KOM Forward (4:19) and PR on Titans Grove, Southbound (18:39).