Top 11 'Postcard-Perfect' Virtual Cycling Trails to do at Home for Year-Round Adventure
The rain is lashing against your window, it's pitch black outside by 5 PM, or maybe the summer heat is just too oppressive for a proper ride. We've all been there. The call of the open road is strong, but the reality of life, weather, and time often keeps our bikes mounted on the trainer. For years, this meant staring at a garage wall, sweat dripping onto the concrete as you grinded out the miles. But those days are over.
Welcome to the golden age of virtual cycling. Thanks to platforms like Zwift, Rouvy, and FulGaz, our indoor training sessions—our "pain caves"—have transformed into portals for global adventure. We can now conquer Alpine passes, spin through Tuscan vineyards, and race on world championship circuits, all before breakfast. This isn't just about logging kilometers; it's about exploration, motivation, and discovering breathtaking scenery that keeps you coming back to the bike, day after day.
So, grab your water bottles, fire up your smart trainer, and get ready to clip in. We’re about to embark on a worldwide tour of the most stunning, challenging, and downright unforgettable virtual cycling trails. These are the routes that are so beautiful, you’ll want to stop and take a screenshot. These are the top 11 postcard-perfect trails to keep your motivation soaring all year long.
1. Alpe du Zwift, Watopia (France)
Let's start with the undisputed king of virtual climbs. Alpe du Zwift is a near-perfect, 1:1 recreation of the legendary Alpe d'Huez in the French Alps. Famous for its 21 hairpin bends, each named after a Tour de France stage winner, this climb is a true rite of passage for any serious virtual cyclist. The 12.2 km (7.6 miles) ascent with an average gradient of 8.5% is a relentless test of physical and mental fortitude.
The virtual environment is spectacular. You start in a lush jungle at the base, and as you climb, the scenery transitions through alpine forests until you break the treeline into a snowy, windswept summit. Each hairpin turn offers a brief respite and a new perspective, making the climb feel like a series of mini-goals. The sense of accomplishment when you reach the arch at the top is immense, and you might even be rewarded with a prize at the "spinner" just past the finish line.
Pro Tip: This is not a climb to attack from the bottom. Find a steady, sustainable pace (around your FTP or slightly below) and hold it. Use the hairpins to briefly stand up and stretch your back. Breaking the climb down into 21 segments makes it mentally much more manageable.
2. Stelvio Pass, Italy
If Alpe d'Huez is a legend, the Stelvio Pass is a mythical beast. Available on platforms like Rouvy and FulGaz, which use real-world video, this ride is as authentic as it gets without booking a flight to Italy. The famous northern ascent from Prato is a staggering 24.3 km (15.1 miles) long, featuring 48 hairpin turns and climbing over 1,800 meters (5,900 feet).
Riding the Stelvio virtually is a jaw-dropping experience. The high-definition video makes you feel every bit of the road's texture and the sheer scale of the landscape. You’ll pedal past waterfalls and through stone tunnels, with the snow-capped Ortler mountains looming above. The final few kilometers, with the iconic wall of switchbacks stacked one on top of the other, is one of the most recognizable and rewarding views in all of cycling.
Pro Tip: This is a 90-minute to 2-hour effort for most riders. Fueling is key, even on the trainer. Make sure you have two bottles and some gels or snacks handy. The real-video format on Rouvy is incredibly immersive, so put on a good playlist and settle in for a long, beautiful grind.
3. Mont Ventoux, France
Known as "The Giant of Provence," Mont Ventoux is an icon of suffering and beauty. Its barren, lunar-like landscape near the summit makes it unique among the great European climbs. Several platforms offer versions of this beast, but the real-video ascent on Rouvy captures the intimidating atmosphere perfectly.
The ride from Bédoin is the most famous route, covering 21.5 km (13.4 miles) at an average of 7.5%. The climb has three distinct parts: a gentle start through vineyards, a brutally steep and unchanging section through a dense forest, and the final, exposed push to the iconic weather station, where the wind (even virtually) feels like a character in the drama. Seeing the landscape change so dramatically is what makes this ride a true postcard from Provence.
Pro Tip: The middle section in the forest is the hardest. It’s long, steep, and mentally taxing. This is where you need to focus on your rhythm and breathing. Once you break out of the trees and see the tower, you know you’re on the home stretch.
4. Yorkshire UCI Worlds Course, UK
Forget massive mountains for a moment and say hello to the punchy, leg-sapping climbs of Northern England. The Zwift course, modeled after the 2019 UCI World Championships in Harrogate, is a masterclass in challenging, rolling terrain. It’s a relentless circuit of short, steep kickers and fast, technical descents that demand constant focus.
The scenery is classic Yorkshire: green rolling hills (dales), stone walls, charming villages, and cheering crowds lining the roads. It feels gritty, real, and incredibly engaging. This isn't a route for settling into a rhythm; it's a route that makes you feel like a pro fighting for position. I was discussing this with my friend, fellow cyclist Goh Ling Yong, and we agreed that circuits like this are perfect for high-intensity interval training.
Pro Tip: The circuit is defined by its punchy climbs. Attack them with power, but be ready to recover quickly on the descents. This course is ideal for virtual racing or for a workout where you want to practice repeated, hard efforts.
5. The Roads of Tuscany, Italy
Imagine riding on the famous "strade bianche" (white gravel roads) of Tuscany, with cypress-lined avenues and sun-drenched vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see. Platforms like Rouvy and FulGaz offer several routes in this iconic Italian region, providing a truly blissful escape.
These routes are typically characterized by rolling hills rather than epic mountains. The climbs are often short but can have steep gradients, testing your power before rewarding you with a stunning view from the crest. The beauty of these rides is in the atmosphere—the warm light, the ancient farmhouses, and the feeling of being completely immersed in one of the world's most beautiful landscapes.
Pro Tip: Look for routes labeled "Strade Bianche" for the full experience. These are perfect for a "sweet spot" or tempo workout. The rolling terrain keeps your body guessing and the gorgeous scenery keeps your mind engaged.
6. Innsbruckring, Austria
Another former UCI World Championship course, Zwift's Innsbruck circuit offers a stunning taste of the Austrian Alps without a soul-crushing mountain pass. The main loop is a fast, rolling ride through the city and along the Inn river, surrounded by dramatic, snow-dusted peaks.
The defining feature is the "Leg Snapper" climb, a short but brutally steep 7.9% kicker that you have to tackle on every lap. It’s just long enough to hurt but short enough to tempt you into going too hard. The combination of fast flats and this punchy climb makes it an exceptionally fun and strategic course for racing or interval training. It’s one of my personal go-to routes for a quick, hard, and scenic one-hour workout.
Pro Tip: Use the flat sections along the river to recover or to work with a group. Save a little energy for the Leg Snapper—a well-timed power-up or a surge over the top can make all the difference in a race.
7. Cape Formentor, Mallorca, Spain
Mallorca is a cyclist's paradise, and the ride to the Cap de Formentor lighthouse is its crown jewel. Rouvy has a breathtaking real-video version of this route that perfectly captures the magic of this coastal masterpiece. You'll ride on silky smooth tarmac that snakes along cliffsides, with the turquoise Mediterranean Sea sparkling hundreds of feet below.
The route is a series of climbs and descents, with a few short tunnels and switchbacks thrown in for good measure. The gradients are manageable, making it more about the rhythm and the views than about pure suffering. The final approach to the lighthouse, perched dramatically at the end of the peninsula, is a truly postcard-perfect moment.
Pro Tip: This route is fantastic for a steady endurance ride. The scenery is so captivating that the time will fly by. Put on some chill music, get into a comfortable gear, and just enjoy the vicarious Spanish sunshine.
8. Bologna Time Trial, Italy
Short, sharp, and spectacular. This route on Zwift, an exact replica of the opening stage of the 2019 Giro d'Italia, is a unique challenge. The first 6 km are pan-flat, winding through the historic, portico-lined streets of Bologna. It’s a pure test of your aerodynamic position and raw power.
Then, you hit the wall. The final 2 km climb to the Santuario della Madonna di San Luca is a monster, averaging nearly 10% with pitches well into the double digits. The crowds lining the virtual road are immense, and their cheers will push you through the pain as you grind your way up the final, agonizing switchbacks. It’s a ride of two distinct halves that is over before you know it, leaving you breathless and exhilarated.
Pro Tip: This is an all-out effort. Go as hard as you can on the flats, but keep just enough in the tank to survive the climb. Pacing is everything. Trying to hold your flat-ground power on the climb is a recipe for disaster.
9. Amstel Gold Race Loop, Netherlands
Think the Netherlands is all flat? Think again. This FulGaz route takes you on the iconic roads of the Amstel Gold Race, the country's premier cycling classic. The course is a tangled web of narrow farm roads, charming villages, and—most importantly—dozens of short, steep climbs called "bergs."
Riding this route is a lesson in Dutch cycling. You'll pass windmills and canals, but your focus will be on the next sharp ramp. Climbs like the Cauberg are only a few hundred meters long, but with gradients hitting 12-15%, they require explosive power. It's a fantastic simulation of classic-style racing and a surprisingly tough workout.
Pro Tip: Treat this like a fartlek ride. Attack the bergs hard out of the saddle, then recover on the brief flat or downhill sections before the next one hits. It’s a great way to improve your explosiveness and recovery.
10. Volcano Climb, Watopia
Sometimes, you just want to escape reality entirely. Watopia, Zwift's original virtual world, is filled with fantasy landscapes, and the Volcano Climb is its most popular and accessible summit. The climb itself is a steady, well-graded road that spirals up and into the caldera of an active volcano.
You’ll ride through a glowing, subterranean world of lava flows and crystal caves. The consistent 3-4% gradient makes it a perfect climb for finding a rhythm and settling in for a sustained sweet spot or tempo effort. It’s not as epic as Alpe du Zwift, but its unique visual appeal and manageable length make it a route you’ll return to again and again.
Pro Tip: Because the gradient is so steady, the Volcano Climb is the perfect place to test your FTP or perform structured intervals. The descent down the other side is fast and flowing, offering a great reward for your effort.
11. Richmond UCI Worlds Course, USA
Host of the 2015 UCI World Championships, the Richmond course on Zwift is an American classic. It captures the spirit of East Coast city racing with its mix of fast boulevards, technical corners, and three decisive, short climbs.
The highlights are the two cobbled climbs. Libby Hill is a narrow, twisting ascent that requires precise timing and power. This is followed quickly by the steep ramp up 23rd Street, where the virtual crowds go wild. The final climb up Governor Street is a long, grinding drag to the finish line. As Goh Ling Yong often points out, mastering courses with repeated, short efforts is key to building race-winning fitness. This circuit is the perfect training ground.
Pro Tip: This is a power-rider's course. The climbs are short enough to be taken with brute force. Practice attacking Libby Hill from the bottom to carry momentum over the crest, and you’ll gain a huge advantage in any race here.
Your Next Adventure Awaits
The world of virtual cycling is bigger, more beautiful, and more engaging than ever before. These eleven routes are just the beginning—a starting point for your year-round adventures from the comfort of your own home. They prove that indoor training doesn't have to be a chore. It can be an escape, a challenge, and a journey to the most beautiful roads on Earth.
So, the next time the weather turns or your schedule is tight, don't just resign yourself to a boring session. Pick a destination from this list, clip in, and transport yourself to a postcard-perfect world.
Now it's your turn! What are your favorite virtual cycling trails? Did I miss a hidden gem? Share your top picks in the comments below—I'm always looking for a new road to explore!
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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