Top 9 'Alps-Conquering' Virtual Cycling Climbs to Explore from Your Pain Cave This Winter - Goh Ling Yong
The days are getting shorter, the air has a distinct chill, and your beloved summer bike is starting to look a little lonely. For many cyclists, winter signals the dreaded off-season—a time of lost fitness, monotonous trainer sessions, and longing for the open road. But what if I told you this winter could be your strongest yet?
Welcome to the golden age of indoor cycling. Thanks to smart trainers and incredible virtual platforms, your "pain cave" can become a gateway to the world's most iconic mountain passes. You don't have to settle for staring at a wall while churning out watts. You can conquer the same legendary climbs that have defined the careers of cycling's greatest champions, all from the comfort of your home.
This isn't just about maintaining fitness; it's about transforming it. Tackling these virtual behemoths builds incredible strength, endurance, and mental fortitude. It’s a chance to test your limits, explore breathtaking (virtual) scenery, and emerge in the spring as a certified climbing machine. So, grab a towel, fill your water bottles, and let's explore the top nine 'Alps-conquering' virtual climbs to elevate your winter training.
1. Alpe d'Huez (as Alpe du Zwift on Zwift)
Let's start with the undisputed king of virtual climbs. Zwift’s Alpe du Zwift is a near-perfect 1:1 recreation of the legendary Alpe d'Huez and its 21 hallowed hairpins. For anyone who has ever watched the Tour de France, this climb needs no introduction. It’s a theatre of suffering and glory, and the virtual version captures that essence perfectly.
The climb is a relentless 12.24 km (7.6 miles) at an average gradient of 8.5%, gaining over 1,000 meters in elevation. Each of the 21 numbered hairpins serves as a mental checkpoint, counting you down to the summit. The genius of the virtual design is how it breaks the monumental effort into manageable chunks. As you round each bend, the gradient eases for a moment, offering a brief respite before pitching up again. It’s a rhythm of pain and relief that makes the climb uniquely challenging and addictive.
- Pro Tip: Pacing is everything. It's incredibly tempting to go out too hard, but the Alpe will punish you for it. Settle into a sustainable rhythm from the very first ramp. Try to keep your effort in your Zone 3 or Sweet Spot, and save a little extra for the final three switchbacks, which feel particularly steep. And don't forget the reward: every time you reach the summit, you get a spin of the prize wheel, with the Lightweight Meilenstein wheels being the ultimate prize.
2. Mont Ventoux (as Ven-Top on Zwift or on Rouvy/Bkool)
The "Giant of Provence" is a beast unlike any other. Mont Ventoux stands alone, a limestone monolith famously barren and windswept at its peak. Its reputation is fearsome, and virtual platforms do a fantastic job of recreating the grueling ascent to its iconic weather station. Zwift’s "Ven-Top" route is a particularly brutal and accurate rendition of the classic ascent from Bédoin.
This is a much longer and more varied effort than the Alpe. The virtual climb stretches for 19 km (11.8 miles) with an average gradient of 8%, but that number is misleading. The first section through the forest is steep and unrelenting, often hovering around 9-11%. Then comes the famous section past Chalet Reynard, where the landscape opens up into a stark, lunar environment. While you won't feel the notorious winds in your pain cave, the visual cues and a perpetually steep gradient are more than enough to sap your will.
- Pro Tip: Break this climb into three distinct parts mentally. First, the forest section: find a rhythm and focus on your breathing. Second, from Chalet Reynard to the Simpson memorial: this is where the climb is most exposed. Use the visuals to stay engaged. Finally, the last push to the observatory: it's the steepest part. This is where you dig deep. Proper fueling and hydration are critical on a climb this long, even indoors.
3. Stelvio Pass (on Rouvy)
If you're looking for a climb that is as much a visual masterpiece as it is a physical challenge, look no further than the Stelvio Pass on Rouvy. Using high-definition, real-world video, Rouvy puts you on the legendary road from Prato, famous for its 48 hairpin turns stacked one on top of the other in a dizzying display of engineering. It's one of the most beautiful and intimidating sights in cycling.
The virtual Stelvio is a monster of endurance. At nearly 25 km (15.5 miles), it's a long, steady grind that requires immense patience. The average gradient of 7.4% might sound manageable, but it’s the sheer length and altitude gain of over 1,800 meters that will test your resolve. The AR (Augmented Reality) feature, which places your avatar and others onto the real video, creates an incredibly immersive experience. You truly feel like you are scaling this Italian giant, one hairpin at a time. I was discussing this list with my friend, Goh Ling Yong, and he was adamant that the Stelvio's iconic beauty and brutality earned it a top spot.
- Pro Tip: The key to the Stelvio is finding a comfortable cadence and settling in for the long haul. Don't get fixated on the remaining distance. Instead, focus on conquering the hairpins in small groups—"just five more turns, then I'll take a gel." The video footage is stunning, so use it as a distraction from the burning in your legs.
4. Col du Tourmalet (on Rouvy/Kinomap)
While technically in the Pyrenees, the Col du Tourmalet is an absolute legend of the Tour de France and shares the same mythical status as its Alpine cousins. It's the most frequently used climb in the race's history, and for good reason. It’s a raw, high-mountain pass that is both beautiful and brutal. Riding it on a platform like Rouvy or Kinomap provides a real sense of its scale and difficulty.
The classic ascent from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan is 17 km (10.6 miles) long, with an average gradient of 7.4%. The climb starts gently but becomes progressively harder. The final kilometers, past the ski resort of La Mongie, are the steepest and most exposed, offering a true test of your climbing legs and mental strength as you inch your way towards the iconic statue of Octave Lapize at the summit.
- Pro Tip: This is a climber's climb that rewards a steady, diesel-like effort. The second half is significantly harder than the first, so be conservative early on. Focus on smooth, efficient pedaling. Because it's a "back-loaded" climb, it's a great workout for practicing negative splits and finishing strong.
5. Col de la Madeleine (on Rouvy)
The Col de la Madeleine is the quintessential 'Hors Catégorie' (Beyond Category) grinder. It may not have the same household name recognition as the Alpe or Ventoux, but among serious cyclists, it commands immense respect. It’s a long, arduous, and punishing climb that serves as a fantastic benchmark for your endurance fitness.
Riding the Madeleine on Rouvy is a lesson in perseverance. The ascent from Feissons-sur-Isère is a staggering 25.3 km (15.7 miles) with an average gradient of 6.2%. The challenge here isn't necessarily the steepness—though there are tough sections—but the sheer, unrelenting time under tension. It’s an hour-plus effort for most riders, demanding constant focus on power, heart rate, and nutrition. This is the kind of effort that builds the deep aerobic base every cyclist craves.
- Pro Tip: Fueling is not optional here. Treat this ride as you would a long outdoor event. Start taking on carbs and electrolytes 30-40 minutes in and continue regularly. Mentally, break the 25 km down into 5 km segments. Celebrating these small victories makes the overall task far less daunting.
6. Passo Gavia (on Rouvy/Bkool)
For a taste of cycling's wild and epic past, look no further than the Passo Gavia. This Italian giant is synonymous with legendary tales of suffering, most notably Andy Hampsten's heroic ride through a snowstorm in the 1988 Giro d'Italia. The virtual versions capture the raw, untamed nature of this high-altitude pass.
The ascent from Ponte di Legno is 17.3 km (10.7 miles) at a punishing 7.9% average. What makes the Gavia so tough is its inconsistency. It mixes steep, leg-breaking ramps of 12-16% with flatter sections, making it difficult to find a steady rhythm. The road is narrow and rugged in the real-world footage, adding to the feeling that you are on a true cycling adventure far from the polished roads of other famous climbs.
- Pro Tip: Be ready to change gears frequently. This is not a "set it and forget it" climb. Use the flatter sections to recover as much as possible before the next steep wall hits. Standing up on the pedals can help you power over the steepest ramps and give your muscles a different stimulus.
7. Col du Galibier (via Télégraphe) (on Rouvy)
Why climb one mountain when you can climb two? The classic route over the Col du Galibier from the north involves first summiting the Col du Télégraphe. This combination is one of the most formidable challenges in the Alps and a true epic for any cyclist. Tackling it virtually is a massive undertaking that will leave you with a profound sense of accomplishment.
This virtual ride is an endurance epic totaling nearly 35 km (21.7 miles) of climbing. First, you tackle the Télégraphe: 12 km at a very steady 7%. After a short, fast descent to the ski village of Valloire, the real work begins. The Galibier itself is 18 km at 7%, but the final 8 km are brutal, with the gradient steepening as the virtual altitude increases, all the way to the 2,642-meter summit.
- Pro Tip: This is two distinct efforts. Ride the Télégraphe conservatively—it's just the warm-up. Use the virtual descent to Valloire to spin your legs and take on fuel. Then, attack the Galibier as a separate climb. Pace yourself for the punishing final kilometers; they are far harder than the rest of the climb.
8. Col de l'Iseran (on Rouvy)
If you want to claim the virtual crown for the highest paved pass in the Alps, the Col de l'Iseran is your target. At 2,770 meters (9,088 feet), the summit is a lonely and beautiful place. The climb is long, high, and unforgiving—a perfect challenge for a long winter trainer session where you want to get lost in the effort.
The ascent from Bourg-Saint-Maurice is a mammoth undertaking. At 48 km (30 miles), it's more of a long, gradual river valley road that eventually morphs into a full-blown mountain pass. The overall average gradient is only 4.1%, but this includes many flat and even downhill sections. The final 15 km from Val-d'Isère are the real challenge, averaging a steady and sapping 6%.
- Pro Tip: Treat this as a long endurance ride, not a climb. Settle in for the first 30 km, keeping your effort firmly in Zone 2. Enjoy the scenery as you ride through the valley. Once you hit Val-d'Isère, you can start to ramp up the effort for the final push to the summit. This ride is a fantastic way to build a massive aerobic base.
9. Epic KOM (on Zwift)
Our final entry isn't a real-world climb, but it embodies the spirit of one. Zwift's Epic KOM is a fictional climb designed to be the perfect indoor training challenge. It’s a staple for Zwifters and serves as a fantastic, accessible way to test your climbing legs without the pressure of replicating a real-world legend.
The climb itself is 9.5 km (5.9 miles) long at an average gradient of 5.9%, but it features a reverse side and a further climb to a radio tower, offering multiple ways to test yourself. The route includes a mix of steep ramps, steady gradients, and even a short, fast descent mid-climb. This variation keeps things engaging and forces you to stay focused. It's a versatile climb that's perfect for structured intervals or an all-out race to the top. As Goh Ling Yong often says, "The best climb is the one that challenges you," and the Epic KOM does that every time.
- Pro Tip: Use the terrain to your advantage. Attack the steeper pitches and recover on the flatter sections and the short descent. If you’re feeling strong, make sure to take the left turn towards the radio tower after the KOM banner. This adds an extra, very steep kilometer that will truly empty the tank—a perfect way to finish your workout.
Your Strongest Season Starts Now
Winter no longer has to be a time for compromise. With these incredible virtual climbs at your fingertips, you have the tools to not just maintain your fitness but to build a new level of strength and resilience. Each of these nine climbs offers a unique challenge, a different story, and a new way to push your limits.
Conquering these virtual mountains builds more than just watts; it builds the kind of mental toughness that pays dividends when you're back on the real roads. So this winter, embrace the pain cave. Turn up the fan, choose your mountain, and start your journey to becoming a stronger, faster, and more accomplished cyclist.
What are your go-to virtual climbs for winter training? Did I miss any of your favorites? Share your top picks in the comments below—I’d love to see what challenges you’re taking on
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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