I think the 4 climb mini challenge for Le Tour de Femmes avec Zwift has been great. I think using this as a format for future big races can be a great way to not only connect cyclists to Zwift, but also give people more carrots, XP and swag to chase. Use this format for all the major tours. In a month there isn’t a major tour, Zwift can pick 4 random climbs or introduce 4 new climbs via the Mini challenge. I have Madeline left today but whether you love or hate the Climb Portal it’s a fun way to be engaged with real life racing.
My only gripe about using portal climbs in big event series is when they replace events on the normal roads, since I don’t ever want to do another portal climb. So I’m fine with having that type of event for people who enjoy it, but the TdF events for the entire month of July were a complete zero for me. None of them were at all interesting (portal climbs, 45 minute group rides, banded rides, workouts). Added to that, only Paris and France as scheduled worlds. I ended up doing two of the ZRacing events (RGV, booooring! and HotN, nice route though too short). It was kind of a dead month for this Zwift addict and I’m glad it’s ending. If I were the events emperor I would have offered a portal climb series for people who enjoy it, and also some proper L’Etape group rides with longer and shorter distances, not 45 min. I also would have alternated the Paris world with other things since there’s almost nothing in it.
My suggestion is simply for a climb portal mini event series for each of the tours to give folks something new to chase. The Climb portal isn’t for everyone, but neither are workouts or races or pace partners. Just like the workout mini challenges if that’s your jam awesome.
I do agree that making guest worlds only Paris (snore) and France (needs more expansion) was a bit unique for the seasoned riders.