Top 10 HARDEST Climbs in Zwift 2022 EDITION

[@josjongeling9367]

think jungle climb should be somewhere in there for me with the awfull dirt road and no visibility , would love to see the stelvio in zwift

[@cdcaterham]

Accidentally did Bologna TT for my first ever TT this week.... was thinking " tra la la this is fun" until the sting in the tail lol I think I came last 😂 But might try again this week!

[@keefff1]

I always get dropped on the leg snapper I'm better on the big long climbs

[@shesmyjack]

So last Sunday I did Ventoux twice (up-down-up-down) just so I could call my ride Ven-TWO). What a prick, yes I know. But in all honesty, there are only two tough climbs on Zwift, Alpe du Zwift and Ventoux. The rest are just an annoyance. Come on Zwift, we need 8 more decent climbs to fill this category out. All your competitors have better climbs - and as the best funded indoor cycling platform you need to start introducing more add-ons (not more worlds ‘cause the small worlds are so boring) to existing worlds so you can ride 100k without covering the same roads and climb more than 2000 metres without using the same climbs.

[@deansmith4752]

may be the col-du-tourmalet ,

[@shesmyjack]

@@deansmith4752 That would be excellent.

[@stijnlaenen4369]

If Zwift is going to add a big climb in the near future, I suspect it will be Mount Fuji (Azami Line), as ridden in the Tour of Japan. 11.9km, 9.9% average, steepest km: 16%. As the focus of Zwift is currently on expanding Makuri Islands, this seems the ideal climb to add.

[@Greg.Sutton]

@@deansmith4752 - Yep prime candidate! Needs to happen that way they then have the main three climbs from the historical TDF

[@michaele7859]

at 51 years old and 97kg, most climbs are more than just an annoyance. I've made them all though (and a 68 minute ADZ)

[@willcrawford6375]

My top 10 is: 10. Leith Hill 9. Keith Hill 8. Bologna 7. Epic KOM 6. Innsbruck 5. Epic KOM Reverse 4. Radio Tower 3. Innsbruck Reverse 2. Alpe d'Zwift 1. Ventoux Anyway good video :)

[@patrickj4747]

You summed Ventoux perfectly. Did it once; never doing it again.

[@crankgreenwatts]

I rode the Neokyo Temples & Towers hard and the last KOM was pretty brutal as went on forever 🥵 Tickets purchased for WYDB so all 🤞 Nice one CP 💯

[@tonylambert4364]

What about the Bologna TT Climb, always in a race so always brutal?

[@nssomething8370]

Bologna is missing from this list. You are always exhausted by the time you make it to the climb.

[@SnideArt]

I agree... ven top is a bugger. The first 3 quaters are dull, then the last bit is actually ok but your cooked by then

[@marty197666]

Mount ventoux holy crap. I’ve done the alpe a few times and it’s a decent test but ventoux was awful! Just seemed to go on forever, I think it’s because you can count the switchbacks but ventoux is just a grind. It’s made me never want to do it irl either! Innsbruck I find tough due to the flatter sections. My favourite ones are box hill, volcano and reverse epic kom, I think that’s because they’re all over quickly

[@lokkagutt]

Hi

[@Mosely2007]

I've done most of them. Not Ventoux yet. The long steady climbs suit my old butt best. I'm a Tempo guy. Find my groove and grind away. In my 70s , still like a challenge. I pass more going up than pass me..

[@kyleboyce7115]

First day on zwift n decided to go up ventop n gave up halfway

[@billyb3689]

Where can I win by dream banana 🍌?

[@johnnyboy4711]

no london map or is it just me,i got watopia,makuri and new york!

[@mathewrose2951]

I really enjoy Ven-Top for the barren lunar landscape in the last few kms. Also, I like that it's the only climb over an hour, all with no let-up, so it's a great way to validate your FTP test results without setting the trainer in erg mode. The Radio Tower, however, is consistently the worst four minutes of any ride. I choose Quatch Quest over Four Horsemen for a long climbing ride simply because the prior omits that "bonus" climb.

[@chrispritch]

You Matthew, need your head seeing to

[@Skw-lincs]

I think you're spot on with all of them! 100%

[@teamtimmins-davidtimmins8512]

For me the Radio Tower is a beast! After climbing already to get to the base of it, the kick up in gradient is pure evil for the final km. Glad of the freewheel down! 😁

[@stafgruglnioe5122]

I am new to zwift and recently did this. I didn't know it was gonna be such a ramp. Plus I did the Epic KOM the day before and thought it was the same route but then turned right and it ramped up :D I was not ready for it but glad when I reached the top :D

[@shaddo5790]

Did this for the first time yesterday. Truly brutal last km.

[@XCBen]

@@stafgruglnioe5122 I also accidently got on it. I am thinking, "New to trainer. New to Zwift. How hard could this random route be?" I never thought it was gonna be that brutal. That finish made me realize how real a trainer can feel.

[@Greg.Sutton]

TBH Zwift for climbs is pretty poor - they could do so much more with the France map in particular..... Open up the other two sides of Ven Top so its possible to do a virtual "cingles", Add in other famous TDF climbs - eg: Tourmalet, Hautacam etc etc etc....... Give you the ability to string together climbs over different worlds in one ride - imagine Ven top followed by the Alp without having to change worlds. Recreate the "Circle of Death" route. There is literally nothing in the Italy map apart from Bologna which is only accesible via events. Given the huge famous climbs in Italy (stelvio etc) that is another massive oversight. Wether the system is not good enough to do it or they do not have the resource or the imagination i do not know what is holding them back. I tend to use another platfrom when i want climbing practice for a specific event.

[@brightpixeluk]

Last year I managed to get the KOM jersey on Innsbruck in a late night group session. To do that I had to stay in the highest gear nearly all the way up. Only downside was that I managed to snap my seat post in the process. Never again!

[@weasellyone2]

For a single ascent 3. Radio Tower. Its steep but short 2. Alpe. Lots of riders to keep you occupied 1. Ventoux. Better have some tunes. Now for the nuts Everesting 3. Alpe. Lots of people and get off the bike all the way down 2. Ventoux. Only 6 times up, easy 1. Radio Tower. Closest to real life. Can't get off the bike on the decents. And yep I'm nutty enough to have done them all. humble brag did them all 10000m also. lol

[@kyleboyce7115]

First day on zwift n decided to go up ventop n gave up halfway

[@chrispritch]

🤦🏻‍♂️

[@jenniferm1605]

The only one I've ever turned around on was the first attempt at the Radio Tower.

[@markstone722]

Fastest speed down the radio tower. Mach 3 I think 🤔 😅

[@KeithB45acp]

Video is really good, the lead in is very annoying :)

[@chrispritch]

well this message is very good but the smiley emoji is very annoying.

[@deansmith4752]

I have done all of these except Ventoux, all have unique reasons for being a pain - sometimes not the ride itself but the fact that they are in the middle of something else - like an invers x squared function !

[@chrispritch]

Don’t do it.

[@lorddilego6805]

You're so wrong!!!! Arrrgh! RAGE! xD Honestly though, I get the radio tower, but the leg snapper? You didn't even put the Innsbruck KOM Forward on the list. Surely that would make you grovel more than the leg snapper? :P

[@chrispritch]

Innsbruck is 10 or 9 isn’t it???

[@lorddilego6805]

@@chrispritch That's the reverse though :P Edit: This a list of climbs, not mountains xD

[@dewidavies7995]

Thanks 😊

[@SuperPate79]

Ventoux. That middle section is SICK! 10+% all the way, km after km. Easy start and easy end, but that middle section is bad.

[@tiborerdelyi3504]

100 km/h

[@karriemwardlow9957]

Yeah - you nailed this list. I’ve never done Alp Du Zwift of Mount Ventoux. I’ve done the radio tower climb 5 or 6 times. Each time I’m like - c’mon.

[@SergioCristancho]

The most Hard climb in Zwift must be ... climb to the saddle ... there is always a 0.009999 hesitation ... every body knows it! stop the denial ....0:36 the most brutal climb ... edition 2022 23 24 ...100

[@markbentley4343]

Chris I agree with your no. 1 rated choice. But consistency mate - no. 1 two years ago is now no. 3. Just an example… I can only assume you got a leg transplant

[@genova2006]

I found the double up and down called Achterbahn to be pretty miserable. Haven‘t tried Ventoux yet😵‍💫

[@JanekDetko]

Have you ever considered using a rocker plate Chris?

[@chrispritch]

No….

[@frankielonghurst]

my Wahoo turbo arriving soon so will have to try out some of these climbs. Maybe not M VT!

[@donwinston]

Why is my avatar fatter than yours? In real life I'm a lean mean racing machine.

[@JanekDetko]

Ven Top is horrific not enjoyable at all!! Radio Tower is grim an all.

[@joshmartonosi5624]

How did the Bologna TT Climb not make this list?

[@lyndondecore7543]

I have not done Ventoux, but did all the others. Not happy with the comments on it because I’m planning a trip there to do the real Ventoux in the spring. Well at least I have somewhere to practice. Maybe while watching APOCALYPSE NOW.

[@Greg.Sutton]

I differ - Ventoux (IRL) is an amazing climb. I did it in 2020 and loved it - paced myself nicely to do it in a smidge over 2hrs. The climb does have landmarks to tick off - the LH bend at St Esteve after about 5km as the road goes into the ceder forest (watch out the road kicks up here for a long time - do not go to hard out of Bedoin for the first 5km or you will pay for it!), As you make the turn towards Chalet Reynard there is a set of Garages in front of you with about 7km to go, Chalet Reynard itself with about 5.5 - 6km to go, The Tommy Simpson Memorial at about 1.5km to go. I would start you ride a little further away and take in the baby Madelaine as a warm up climb (440m ish) as its a fantastic climb and after the Ventoux climb drop down in Malaucene as its easy to loop back round to the bottom of the baby Madaleine from there after. Ven Top is great practice and pretty damn accurate in terms of what it will be like if you want to gauge your effort and time etc. Of course cannot mimic the wind and road surface but if you prop your front wheel up about 7-8cm it will mimic the climbing position on the trainer for the average gradient you will face and use those muscles. Plus of course ramp the difficulty up to 100%.

[@dazza7367]

Agree pritch I’ve done it once never again 90 mins of torture 😭😭

[@SergioCristancho]

3:45 NYC do not like this climbs they feel un natural no matter what.

[@saintuk70]

Being a fatty, my most brutal climb is getting on the bike.

[@leissp1]

Those are all brutal and having done Ventoux in real life you are correct sir.

[@SergioCristancho]

8:10 radio tower ... warning!!! only climb if you must!!!

[@keefff1]

So is this dream bike for real?? Just incase I'd like a electric blue Raleigh Grifter made from recycled rsj's with sturmey archer 3 speed......Razzmatazz 💥

[@chrispritch]

💥

[@sprintkick9793]

Without a doubt Ventop #1 followed by radio tower.

[@shanegreen2583]

Your avatar looked like Johnny depp on one of them 😂

[@nickharrison7281]

I thought Achterban would be in there....a real ball ache!!

[@luckythirteengaming6605]

Ven Top is shite. Best way to break it up is a bite of flapjack and a swig of Old Fashioned every 1km

[@chrispritch]

😂

[@Davy_Delwal_Le-Papa]

You’re right for Ventoux ! Sooooo long

[@bitminerbob6731]

Hills are of the devil.

[@murrayg737]

I agree with that list. I got just shy of 90kmh on the descent from radio tower

[@NoodlesTBograt]

I had to up my weight to 350kg on the shiv disc and 808 wheels I hit 111kmh

[@JaimeGonzalez-od4db]

Neokyo is the perfect type of map for them to add a car park KOM. They need to do it!

[@chrispritch]

Isn’t it just!!!

[@katieloker]

VenTop 😂 You had a breakdown on that ride and I just did a U turn and went back to the bottom 😂

[@chrispritch]

I remember it well…

[@XCBen]

@@chrispritch LOL!!!

[@Matt-nh5zi]

It’s a Chelsea smile mate 😂

[@chrispritch]

That’s the one 😂

[@jbdvries]

The first time I did the Ventoux I absolutely hated it. It was so brutal and way before the finish was close I swore never to do that climb again. Because of that, I did need to complete it in under 1,5 hours, because that seems to be like an unofficial goal (just like Alpe in under an hour), so if I never am going to attempt it again, it has to be done first try. And I succeeded! Subsequent times when I did the Ventoux, my times were far less good. It seems I lacked the absolute hatred and rage that came with that first attempt, needed to put the required power down on the pedals. Don't get me wrong, I still hate that climb with a passion, while I love the Alpe. I do think however that if I'm ever going to do the eVeresting challenge, it makes sense to do that on the Ventoux. Beat that challenge on my most hated climb, many times over.

[@rasherdk]

What, no Bologna?

[@chrispritch]

I was going to put it in…. It’s event only so i forgot about it!!

[@SergioCristancho]

2:30 know we know CP is not a dog person... LOL