Top 13 'World-Tour-in-Your-Workout-Room' Virtual Cycling Trails to master at home this off-season - Goh Ling Yong
The days are getting shorter, the air has a distinct chill, and your favourite summer cycling kit is slowly migrating to the back of the closet. For many cyclists, the off-season can feel like a daunting void. The motivation to brave the elements wanes, and the prospect of endless, monotonous hours on a "dumb" trainer is enough to make anyone hang up their bike until spring.
But what if I told you that this off-season could be your most exciting and productive one yet? Thanks to the revolution in smart trainers and virtual cycling platforms, the world is now your oyster, or rather, your workout room. Gone are the days of staring at a garage wall, counting down the minutes. Today, you can conquer the most iconic climbs of the Tour de France, sprint through the cobbled streets of Belgium, and explore sun-drenched coastal roads in Spain—all without ever leaving your home.
This isn't just about avoiding boredom; it's about structured, engaging, and incredibly effective training. You can simulate real-world gradients, race against friends, and follow structured workouts on legendary roads. This guide is your passport. I’ve compiled the ultimate bucket list of 13 virtual cycling trails that will not only keep you fit but will leave you inspired and mentally tougher for the season ahead. So, clip in, and let’s take a world tour.
1. Alpe du Zwift (Zwift)
Let's start with the undisputed king of virtual climbs. Alpe du Zwift is a meticulously crafted digital twin of the legendary Alpe d'Huez in the French Alps. This is a rite of passage for any serious indoor cyclist. The climb is a formidable challenge, featuring 21 numbered hairpin bends over 12.2km, with an average gradient of 8.5%. It's a true test of physical endurance and mental fortitude.
What makes it so compelling is the journey. You begin in a lush, humid jungle, surrounded by ancient ruins and waterfalls. As you ascend, the environment transforms. The jungle gives way to a deciduous forest, which then transitions into a snowy, alpine landscape near the summit. Each switchback is a mini-goal, and seeing the numbers count down provides a huge psychological boost.
Pro Tip: Pacing is everything. It's incredibly tempting to go out too hard on the first few switchbacks. Instead, find a sustainable power output or heart rate zone and stick to it. Use the short, flatter sections on the inside of the hairpins for a momentary recovery. And trust me, the view (and the prize in the spinner at the top) is worth every pedal stroke.
2. Passo dello Stelvio (Rouvy/FulGaz)
If you're looking for breathtaking, real-world beauty combined with a brutal challenge, look no further than the Stelvio Pass. Available on augmented reality platforms like Rouvy and FulGaz, this ride uses real video footage, making you feel like you're actually in the Italian Alps. The famous ascent from Prato features an astonishing 48 switchbacks carved into the mountainside.
Riding the Stelvio is a different experience from the gamified world of Zwift. It’s more immersive and solitary. You'll be mesmerised by the panoramic views and the sheer scale of the engineering. The gradient is unforgiving, but the stunning scenery provides a welcome distraction. This is as close as you can get to a European cycling holiday from your pain cave.
Pro Tip: Use the real-world visuals to your advantage. Focus on a landmark in the distance and work your way towards it. Because it’s real footage, you can also study the road surface and the lines you would take in real life, making it a great tool for mentally preparing for a future trip.
3. Mont Ventoux (Zwift/Rouvy)
The "Giant of Provence" is a legend for a reason. Its barren, moon-like summit is instantly recognisable and has been the backdrop for some of the most dramatic moments in Tour de France history. The virtual version captures the mountain's daunting character perfectly. The climb from Bédoin is the classic route—a long, gruelling ascent that takes you through forests before spitting you out into the exposed, windswept landscape above the tree line.
This climb is a psychological battle. The relentless gradient and the stark scenery can be mentally taxing. There's nowhere to hide. But reaching the iconic weather station at the summit provides a sense of accomplishment that few other virtual climbs can match. Like many competitive athletes, I know Goh Ling Yong uses the off-season to build a strong base, and tackling a monster like Ventoux is a perfect way to forge that physical and mental resilience.
Pro Tip: Break the climb into three parts: the rolling approach, the steep forest section, and the exposed final 6km. Fuel properly before you start, and make sure you have enough water. On Zwift, the descent is just as thrilling, so enjoy the reward!
4. Watopia's Volcano Climb (Zwift)
Need a quick, intense, and satisfying workout? The Volcano Climb is your answer. This short but punchy climb inside Watopia's fiery volcano is a fantastic route for a lunch-break session or for testing your functional threshold power (FTP). It's a steady 3.75km climb with an average gradient of 7%, making it a consistent, high-intensity effort.
The scenery is pure fantasy—you'll ride through glowing tunnels of molten lava and futuristic glass tubes. It’s a fun and visually stimulating environment that makes the hard work a little more enjoyable. The constant gradient means you can lock into a specific power zone and just grind it out, making it ideal for structured interval training.
Pro Tip: Use this climb to practice your sustained climbing technique. Focus on a smooth pedal stroke and a steady cadence. Since it's a popular route, you can often find other riders to pace with, turning a solo effort into a mini-race to the top.
5. Richmond UCI Worlds Course (Zwift)
Time to trade long mountain passes for the explosive, leg-sapping efforts of a Belgian classic. While not a single mountain, the 2015 UCI World Championship course in Richmond, Virginia, is a masterclass in attritional racing. The course is defined by its series of short, sharp, and often cobbled climbs, most notably Libby Hill and 23rd Street.
These are not climbs you spin up; they are climbs you attack. They require explosive power and the ability to recover quickly before the next one hits. Riding this course is a fantastic workout for improving your punchiness and race-specific fitness. It teaches you to handle repeated surges, a crucial skill for any competitive cyclist.
Pro Tip: Don't try to maintain a steady pace. Attack the climbs hard and use the short descents and flat sections to recover. Practice shifting gears just before the gradient kicks up so you don't lose momentum.
6. Sa Calobra, Mallorca (FulGaz/Rouvy)
Welcome to cycling paradise. Sa Calobra is one of the most famous and architecturally stunning roads in the world, and you can ride it from home. This Mallorcan masterpiece is a 9.5km climb that snakes its way up from a tiny coastal village, featuring a unique 270-degree spiral bridge and breathtaking views of the Mediterranean cliffs.
On a platform like FulGaz, the high-quality video makes you feel the sun on your back. It's a steady climb, mostly around 7%, making it a fantastic endurance effort. The beauty of this route is that it’s not just about the pain; it's a genuinely beautiful journey that will have you dreaming of your next cycling trip.
Pro Tip: To replicate the real-world experience, many cyclists virtually "descend" the route first, then turn around at the bottom to begin the climb. This helps you appreciate the road's engineering before you have to suffer your way up it.
7. Col du Tourmalet (Rouvy/FulGaz)
You can't have a list of iconic climbs without including the most frequently featured climb in the history of the Tour de France. The Col du Tourmalet is a true giant of the Pyrenees. Riding it, even virtually, feels like you're tapping into a deep history of cycling heroism and suffering.
The ascent is long and demanding, taking you through charming French villages before rising into the high, barren mountains. The sense of scale is immense. This is a pure endurance challenge that tests your ability to settle into a rhythm and just keep pedalling. When you finally reach the summit and see the famous cyclist statue, you'll feel a deep sense of connection to the sport's legends.
Pro Tip: This is a marathon, not a sprint. Start at a conservative pace and fuel as if you were on a real-life century ride. This is a perfect workout for a long weekend session when you have time to settle in and embrace the grind.
8. London Loop, including Box Hill (Zwift)
Relive the glory of the 2012 Olympics on this popular Zwift course. The London Loop offers a fantastic mix of flat sections along the River Thames and the rolling terrain of the Surrey Hills, culminating in the famous Box Hill climb. It’s not a monster climb, but it's a strategic one, especially in a race.
This route is excellent for practicing tactical riding. You can use the draft of other riders on the long, flat lead-in to conserve energy before hitting the climb. Box Hill itself is a steady, manageable ascent, making it a great place to test your legs without completely emptying the tank. It’s one of the best all-around routes for a solid, one-hour workout.
Pro Tip: If you're in a virtual group ride or race, positioning is key. Make sure you are near the front of the pack as you approach the base of Box Hill so you don't get stuck behind slower riders.
9. Passo Gavia, Italy (Rouvy)
For those who love a sense of wild, untamed adventure, the Passo Gavia is a must-ride. This high mountain pass in Italy is known for its narrow roads, dramatic weather, and raw, rugged beauty. It has been the scene of epic Giro d'Italia stages, most famously Andy Hampsten's legendary ride through a snowstorm in 1988.
Riding the Gavia on Rouvy is an immersive experience. The video captures the intimidating and awe-inspiring nature of the climb. It’s often less crowded than other famous climbs, giving you a sense of solitude as you battle the gradient. This is a climb that builds character and mental toughness.
Pro Tip: The Gavia's gradient is inconsistent. Be prepared to shift gears frequently and adapt your effort to the changing pitch of the road. Embrace the challenge—this is the kind of climb that makes you a stronger cyclist.
10. UCI World Championship Course - Yorkshire, UK (Zwift)
Get ready for a proper British beatdown. The 2019 UCI World's course in Harrogate, Yorkshire, is a war of attrition. There are no long Alpine climbs here. Instead, you face a relentless circuit of short, steep, punchy hills on narrow, winding roads. It’s a course that constantly forces you to accelerate and recover.
This route is brutally effective for building race-specific fitness. Each lap saps a little more energy from your legs, and the final climb to the finish line is a true test of who has anything left. It’s a fantastic course for high-intensity interval training that mimics the demands of criterium or cyclocross racing.
Pro Tip: Recovery is the name of the game. Go hard on the climbs, but be diligent about spinning your legs and recovering on the brief descents and flatter sections. Every second of recovery counts.
11. Cap de Formentor, Mallorca (Rouvy/FulGaz)
Another gem from the cycling paradise of Mallorca, the ride to the lighthouse at Cap de Formentor is one of the most scenic coastal routes in the world. The road twists and turns, rises and falls, offering jaw-dropping views of the turquoise sea and dramatic cliffs at every turn.
This isn't a pure mountain climb but a rolling route that keeps you engaged. The final push to the lighthouse is a satisfying challenge, and the sense of arrival is incredible, even through a screen. This is the perfect route for a day when you want a solid workout but need some world-class scenery to keep your spirits high.
Pro Tip: Use the undulating terrain to practice your pacing. Push a little harder on the short climbs and use the descents to get an active recovery. It's a great way to simulate a long, rolling road ride.
12. Road to Sky, Watopia (Zwift)
This route is less of a destination and more of a gateway. The "Road to Sky" is the shortest route to the base of Alpe du Zwift. It consists of a long, flat lead-in through the jungle before making a sharp right turn to begin the epic climb. I’m including it here because it’s a crucial part of the Alpe experience.
Think of the flat section as your warm-up and mental preparation zone. Use this time to get your legs spinning, finalise your nutrition and hydration plan, and get your mind right for the hour-plus of suffering that lies ahead. It’s the calm before the storm, and a route you will become very familiar with on your quest to conquer the Alpe.
Pro Tip: Don't get carried away in a fast-moving group on the flat lead-in. It's easy to burn precious energy trying to keep up. Stick to your own warm-up pace and save every single watt for the climb itself.
13. Old La Honda Road, California (FulGaz)
Let's finish with a legendary local climb. Old La Honda is a revered proving ground for Silicon Valley cyclists, a beautiful ascent through a forest of towering redwood trees just outside Palo Alto. It’s not exceptionally long or steep, but it has a perfectly consistent gradient that makes it an ideal benchmark for testing your fitness.
Riding this on a platform like FulGaz gives you a taste of this classic Northern California cycling culture. It’s a peaceful, shaded climb where you can focus entirely on your rhythm and effort. Because it’s such a well-known benchmark, you can compare your times to thousands of other riders and track your progress throughout the off-season.
Pro Tip: Ride Old La Honda early in your off-season training block to set a baseline time. Then, repeat the test every 4-6 weeks. Seeing your time drop is a massive confidence booster and a clear sign that your training is paying off.
Don't just survive the off-season—dominate it. With these virtual routes loaded up on your tablet, your trainer sessions can transform from a necessary evil into an exciting adventure. You have the opportunity to explore the world's greatest cycling roads, push your limits on legendary climbs, and build a powerful base of fitness that will have you flying when the spring season arrives.
So, pick a route, fire up your smart trainer, and start your world tour.
What are your go-to virtual routes for off-season training? Did I miss one of your favourites? Share it in the comments below—let's build the ultimate winter ride list together!
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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